Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur set to be hit with HUGE ban for ‘racial slur’ against his own team-mate Son Heung-min, after saying South Korean cousins ‘are all the same’ in TV interview

The Football Association are set to hit Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur with a lengthy ban for making an alleged racist remark about South Koreans while on Uruguayan TV. 

Multiple sources have told Mail Sport the midfielder is likely to receive a seven match ban – but that figure is unconfirmed. 

Nevertheless, Bentancur is set to miss a lengthy period for Ange Postecoglou’s side in what will arrive as a major blow to Spurs. 

Appearing on the show in his homeland in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, ‘Sonny’s?’ – referencing his team-mate Son Heung-min. 

He then added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because ‘more or less they are all the same.’ 

The 27-year-old midfielder appeared on the Uruguayan television show (above) in June 2024

Tottenham’s captain, the subject of the alleged racist remark, pictured above with his parents

The FA confirmed earlier this year that they charged the South American for an ‘aggravated breach’ of their rules. 

And the FA are now close to confirming Bentancur’s punishment. 

Bentancur has played an important role for Postecoglou this campaign, featuring in 10 of Tottenham’s 11 Premier League games so far, starting seven.

The only league match the Uruguayan has missed this season was Spurs’ home clash with Everton on the second weekend, when Postecoglou’s side triumphed 4-0.

Breaking his silence on the incident earlier this summer, the former Juventus star took to social media to deliver a grovelling apology to Son, insisting to the Spurs captain it was a ‘very bad joke’.

He said: ‘Sonny brother! I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke!

‘You know that I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother!’

It is not known whether Son has any high-profile cousins. 

The South Korean revealed that team-mate Bentancur was close to tears when he apologised over the alleged racial slur.

‘At the moment because of the FA process I can’t say much about it,’ said Son in September. ‘But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We’ve a lot of good memories since we started playing together when he joined. 

‘He knew and he apologised straight afterwards. We were on holiday. I was at home. I didn’t even realise what was going on when he sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.

‘When we came back for pre-season he felt really sorry, and almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.’

Son Heung-Min and Bentancur have been team-mates since the latter joined Spurs in 2022

The news comes as a blow for Ange Postecoglou, who has relied on Bentancur this season

Tottenham broke their silence on the incident in June, with Son insisting he ‘loves Rodrigo’

‘I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him,’ the South Korean said when he first broke his silence on the incident in June.

‘He knows he made a mistake but I’ve no problem at all with him. We move on as a team-mate and friend and as a brother. We move on together.

‘We have to wait for what the FA says in their process. I can’t say much but what I can say is I love Rodrigo, there’s nothing more to say.’

Meanwhile, Tottenham said: ‘Following a comment from Rodrigo Bentancur in an interview video clip and the player’s subsequent public apology, the Club has been providing assistance in ensuring a positive outcome on the matter. 

‘This will include further education for all players in line with our diversity, equality and inclusion objectives.

‘We fully support that our captain Sonny feels that he can draw a line under the incident and that the team can focus on the new season ahead.

‘We are extremely proud of our diverse, global fanbase and playing squads. Discrimination of any kind has no place at our Club, within our game or within wider society.’

Mail Sport previously reported how Bentancur could face a ban of up to 12 matches after making the alleged racist remark, with a minimum suspension of six games if found guilty.

Confirming they had charged the Uruguayan, the FA released a statement in September which read: ‘Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.

‘It’s alleged that the Tottenham midfielder has breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.

‘It’s further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’ which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.’

Bentancur (right) issued a heartfelt apology to his team-mate, claiming it was just a ‘bad joke’

Bentancur’s comment came less than a year after a fan was handed a three-year football ban for racially abusing Son. 

Robert Garland made the racial gesture at the forward after he was substituted in the 89th minute against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 6 May, 2023. 

The 44-year-old football fan pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment at Highbury Magistrates Court on August 25 and was convicted later that year.

The incident in May 2023 marked the third time Son had been targeted by racial abuse during while representing Tottenham last season.

The Tottenham captain’s father Son Woong-jung was found guilty of physically and verbally abusing young footballers at his academy in Korea in October.

Chuncheon district court gave him a £1,700 fine and community service order to complete 40 hours in educational programmes.

The 62-year-old denied all wrongdoing, insisting that ‘never spoke or acted in a way that was not based on love for children’.