After talk had recently gone quiet, Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is reportedly set to be given a seven game domestic ban, for derogatory comments made towards Korean people back in June.
The midfielder suggested that all Korean people look the same, comments he soon apologised for, with Son taking to social media to explain how he understood that he didn’t mean any harm and how everything was all good between them.
Later on, the captain revealed that Bentancur was “close to tears” when he apologised to him directly, saying: “He knew and he apologised straight afterwards. We were on holiday. I was at home. I didn't even realise what was going on when he sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.
When we came back for pre-season he felt really sorry, and almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.”
Spurs midfielder set to miss seven games
It seems that the FA have been less forgiving, however — with the number 30 reportedly set for a seven game domestic ban for his comments made back in June.
If this ban is in place by the end of the international break, Bentancur would miss; Manchester City (A), Fulham (H), AFC Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Southampton (A), Manchester United (H, Carabao Cup), Liverpool (H).
The ban is a domestic one, so he would be available for the Europa League games against Roma and Rangers during that time period, so that can at least be used for rotation and to keep his match sharpness up.
Furthermore, the 27-year old is back in the Uruguay squad, having served a four game international ban. He is up for selection for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Brazil this month, which should help his sharpness remain, if he is selected by manager Marcelo Bielsa.
This has frustrated fans as you can imagine, with plenty quick to point out that no ban was given to Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, after he was part of a group of Argentina players that sang derogatory chants towards the French national team after their Copa America win back in July.
Just from a footballing perspective alone, this is really frustrating. Bentancur had just got back into form, and particularly now as we enter the busiest schedule of the season, he would have been more useful than ever.
You would assume that for Premier League games (and the Carabao Cup quarter final vs United) it will be Yves Bissouma holding it down, with Bentancur for Europa League games.