Tottenham Hotspur is in poor form in all competitions. Amidst their dismal form, a controversy has struck them. According to sources, Rodrigo Bentancur will be suspended from domestic fixtures for seven matches. The FA punished the 27-year-old with ‘aggravated breach’ following a racist remark regarding Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min. The Uruguay midfielder will not be able to play until mid-December due to the seven-match suspension.
The event occurred during a Uruguayan TV interview back in June when Bentancur was questioned by a reporter about bringing in the shirt of the South Korean winger. The 27-year-old is expected to receive a lengthy punishment, according to The Athletic, therefore Spurs are prepared for him to miss several games. Tottenham will have a tough schedule of Premier League games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton, and Liverpool.
In a public social media post, Rodrigo Bentancur expressed his apology to Son, and the South Korean international claimed that when they next met, his teammate nearly started crying. As he awaits the FA’s ultimate decision, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has told Bentancur that he would have to accept the consequences of his remarks. Rodrigo Bentancur will still be able to play in the Europa League, with matches against Roma and Rangers coming up.
Premier League says ‘no to racism’
Is football’s response to racism too harsh? Son already forgave his teammate the winger said, “He just like felt really sorry and almost like cried when he apologised publicly and also personally as well. It felt like he feels really sorry. We’re all human and make mistakes, and we learn from it. But I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him. You know, he made a mistake. But I have no problem at all. At all.”
The abusive comments can harm a footballer’s mind. It can cause emotional distress, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem among affected players. Their performances can also be hampered by racist comments. There will be a decline in their performance due to increased stress and distraction. The footballers who pass racial comments should be banned from playing the game for a lifetime.
