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Rodrigo Bentacur appeared on a Uruguayan TV show saying all South Koreans look the same.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) following remarks he made about South Koreans during a media interview this summer.
The charge comes after Bentancur's comments, which appeared to stereotype South Koreans, sparked significant backlash.
In June, Bentancur was featured on the Uruguayan TV show Por La Camiseta, where he was asked about acquiring a Tottenham player's shirt. The midfielder's response: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too. They all look the same” was met with immediate criticism for its insensitivity.
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The remark was widely condemned as a racially charged stereotype, leading to an uproar on social media.
The FA has charged Bentancur with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct, citing that his comments may have constituted an “aggravated breach” due to their reference to nationality and race.
The charge accuses Bentancur of acting in an improper manner and using insulting words that brought the game into disrepute.
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In response to the controversy, Bentancur issued an apology on Instagram, describing his comments as a “very bad joke.”
He expressed regret directly to Tottenham’s South Korean captain, Son Heung-min, stating, “You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother!”
Son Heung-min publicly addressed the incident in a statement, emphasising that he accepted Bentancur’s apology. “I’ve spoken with Lolo. He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised,” Son said. “Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all. We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one.”
Tottenham Hotspur also responded to the situation, affirming their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The club acknowledged the incident and expressed support for Son’s decision to move past the issue. “We are extremely proud of our diverse, global fanbase and playing squads. Discrimination of any kind has no place at our club, within our game or within wider society,” a club spokesperson said.
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Tottenham also indicated that they will implement further educational measures to reinforce their diversity, equality, and inclusion objectives across their squad.
Bentancur has until Thursday, 19 September, to respond to the FA charge. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as it underscores the ongoing efforts within football to address and rectify issues of racial insensitivity and promote greater understanding across the sport.
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