Spurs midfielder charged by FA ahead of Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA for misconduct, but he won’t miss their game against Arsenal.

Uruguay’s midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (R) is tackled by France’s forward Antoine Griezmann during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Uruguay and France at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on July 6, 2018. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

Sky Sports News report that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.

It is alleged that he acted in an improper manner and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.

It’s further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach” which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St James’ Park on September 01, 2024. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

The charge relates to an interview Bentancur held with Uruguayan TV show Por La Camiseta all the way back in June, when he suggested all people from South Korea “looked the same”.

The player apologised on his Instagram page, calling the comments “just a very bad joke”, but if the FA charges are proven, he’ll presumably receive a ban.

Yet Bentancur won’t miss Spurs’ derby game against Arsenal this weekend. He has until Thursday, September 19th to respond to the charge, so there’s zero prospect of a ban being implemented before that date.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 14, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The long delay between Bentancur’s June comments and the FA’s eventual decision to charge him in September has effectively ensured that he’ll be available to face the Gunners.

Whether he’ll start the match remains to be seen. Bentancur played 78 minutes of Spurs’ opening game against Leicester City, missed their match against Everton with a head injury, then played just eight minutes as a substitute against Newcastle United.

Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, and Pape Matar Sarr started in midfield against Newcastle, and they might get another shot in the derby if Bentancur doesn’t return to the lineup.