Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match ban and fined £100,000 following an independent regulatory commission's ruling on racist remarks made about teammate Son Heung-min.

The suspension, confirmed by the Football Association (FA), comes after comments Bentancur made during a pre-season interview, as reported by multiple outlets, including Football London. The punishment includes a ban from domestic fixtures and a hefty fine.

Bentancur, a vital figure under Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, has been pivotal for the team this season, missing only one Premier League game due to a concussion. His absence due to the suspension now poses a significant challenge for Postecoglou, as Tottenham will be without their key midfielder for an extended period.

The FA’s statement on Monday outlined the decision: “An independent regulatory commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview. It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 by acting improperly, using abusive and/or insulting words, and bringing the game into disrepute.”

The suspension leaves Spurs needing to adjust their midfield dynamics as they aim to maintain their strong start to the Premier League season.