Rodrigo Bentancur’s Appeal Against Seven-Match Ban Dismissed

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will complete the final two matches of his seven-game suspension after the Football Association rejected his appeal. This means he will be unavailable for Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures against Manchester United and Liverpool. The Uruguay international was initially handed the ban in November for using a racial slur directed at team-mate Son Heung-min during a television appearance. Spurs had accepted the original judgment but subsequently appealed against the severity of the punishment. However, following a hearing, the appeal was dismissed. Consequently, Bentancur is set to miss the Carabao Cup match against Manchester United and the Premier League game versus Liverpool. The former Juventus player was permitted to participate in the Europa League throughout his ban, as the suspension is applicable only to domestic competitions. Anti-racism organizations Kick It Out and The Frank Soo Foundation have reported receiving more complaints regarding Tottenham’s decision to appeal Bentancur’s ban than about the initial incident itself. In a joint statement, the groups expressed their hope that Spurs “reflect on its decision” because the episode has been “upsetting for many fans”.