Good morning, The Football Newsletter readers,

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to receive a significant ban following comments made about his teammate Son Heung-min that have resulted in charges from the Football Association (FA). Today, we break down what happened, Bentancur’s response, and what this could mean for Spurs as they head into a demanding stretch of the season.

Bentancur, 27, came under fire in September after appearing on Uruguayan TV programme Por la Camiseta. During the show, he made a comment about Son and his family, saying, “Sonny, or a cousin of Sonny, they all look the same.” Although Bentancur quickly apologised—both privately to Son and publicly on social media—the FA deemed his words a breach of conduct.

Bentancur was subsequently charged with acting in an “improper manner” and “using abusive and/or insulting words.” The FA further noted that his remarks constituted an “aggravated breach” of Rule E3.2, which addresses conduct involving references to nationality, race, or ethnic origin.

While the exact length of the suspension has yet to be announced, reports suggest it could be substantial, potentially sidelining Bentancur for several important matches.

The midfielder didn’t waste time addressing his mistake. Shortly after the remarks aired, Bentancur reached out to Son, both privately and through a public apology on social media. “Sonny, brother! I am sorry for what happened, it was a joke in bad taste,” Bentancur wrote. “You know that I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone. I love you brother!”

Son, who has shared a strong on-field partnership with Bentancur since the latter’s arrival at Spurs, later spoke on the incident, revealing the depth of Bentancur’s remorse. According to Son, Bentancur was visibly emotional during his apology. “He almost cried when he apologised,” Son said. “He sent me a long message, and you could feel it was from his heart. I love Rodrigo.”

The looming ban couldn’t come at a worse time for Spurs, who are navigating a busy schedule both domestically and in Europe. Bentancur, who has been instrumental in the heart of Tottenham’s midfield, has featured in 10 of their 11 Premier League games this season, only missing their 4-0 win over Everton due to a head injury. He’s also been a regular in their Europa League campaign, appearing in three of their four matches.

If Bentancur is hit with a lengthy suspension, Tottenham will need to rely heavily on their midfield depth as they face a series of challenging fixtures, including Premier League clashes against Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Fulham, as well as a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester United in December.

Manager Ange Postecoglou will likely have to reshuffle his midfield options if Bentancur is unavailable, with the burden potentially falling on the likes of Yves Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, or even young talents like Oliver Skipp to fill the void. Bentancur’s absence would disrupt a midfield setup that has become critical to Spurs’ fluid style of play this season.

The Bentancur incident is the latest in a series of FA charges around inappropriate comments. The governing body has been clear about its stance on discriminatory or insensitive language, aiming to set standards for respect and inclusivity across English football. For Bentancur, who has shown genuine remorse and taken responsibility for his words, this will be a learning moment, but it’s also a reminder of the broader responsibility players carry as public figures.

Whether the FA’s decision will spark further dialogue on these issues remains to be seen, but for now, Spurs fans will be awaiting the official verdict and hoping Bentancur can return to action soon.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, we’ll keep you informed on all things Spurs and beyond.