LONDON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tottenham midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven games and fined 100,000 pounds (126,000 US dollars) by the English Football Association (FA) for using a racial insult against his South Korean teammate Son Heung-min
The player is alleged to have made his offensive racially-based comments on a TV appearance in his homeland, but as it happened in his own time, rather than with his national squad, fell under the jurisdiction of the FA to punish.
The suspension means the 27-year-old Uruguayan international will not play again until December 26th and will miss key games against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
The suspension only applied to domestic matches, which means he will be able to play for his club in the Europa League.
"Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing," said the FA in a communique confirming the ban.
Bentancur has apologized for his remarks about Son, saying they were a "very bad joke." ■
