Rodrigo Bentancur's Appeal Rejected, Two-Match Ban Remains

Rodrigo Bentancur will serve the remaining two matches of his seven-match ban after the Football Association (FA) dismissed his appeal.  The Uruguayan midfielder received the ban in November for using a racial slur against teammate Son Heung-min during a televised broadcast. Spurs accepted the ruling but appealed the length of the suspension. However, the FA rejected the appeal, meaning Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s upcoming matches against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and Liverpool in the Premier League.

The ban only applies to domestic competitions, so Rodrigo Bentancur has continued to play in the Europa League. The incident and Tottenham’s appeal have sparked controversy. Anti-racism organizations Kick It Out and The Frank Soo Foundation received more complaints about Spurs’ appeal than about the original racial slur incident. In a joint statement, both groups expressed disappointment with the club’s decision to challenge the ban and urged Tottenham to “reflect on its decision,” as the situation has caused significant distress for fans.

The FA’s dismissal of the appeal has raised concerns about how football clubs handle racial incidents and the importance of addressing such matters seriously. The outcome reminds the sport of its ongoing efforts to combat racism and the need for strong accountability in these situations. Tottenham’s decision to appeal the ban has fueled further debate about how football addresses racial misconduct.