Rodrigo Bentancur: Tottenham midfielder banned for seven matches over racial slur about Son Heung-min

When charging the Uruguay international the FA said it was “an alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview”.

The FA said this constituted an “aggravated breach… as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin”.

In the media interview in question, asked by a presenter for a Tottenham shirt, Bentancur replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

He later apologised on social media and said his comments were a “very bad joke”.

Bentancur also said sorry to Son, who said he would “not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive”.

The incident involving Bentancur happened in his own time and so, as he plays in England, fell under the jurisdiction of the FA – unlike the situation involving Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Fernandez was on international duty when he posted a video – which the French Football Federation (FFF) said included an alleged “racist and discriminatory” chant – of Argentina celebrating winning the Copa America, and is being investigated by world governing body Fifa.