The FA have handed a seven-match domestic ban for Rodrigo Bentancur, and he will thus miss some huge Spurs games coming up over the next month and a half.
FA ban is coming for Rodrigo Bentancur at Spurs
Rodrigo Bentancur was previously charged with an “aggravated breach” of the FA’s rules rules after making a distasteful joke about his teammate Heung-min Son.
The 27-year-old had suggested in the interview back in the summer that the Spurs captain and his cousins “all look the same”, which he later apologised for, admitting that it was a “bad joke” (talkSPORT).
Tottenham insider Paul O’Keefe confirmed that the FA’s charge has been upheld and that Bentancur will be banned for the club’s next seven domestic matches.
The matches Rodrigo Bentancur will miss
Bentancur‘s ban will not apply in the Europa League as that tournament comes under the jurisdiction of UEFA rather than the FA.
That means that the midfielder will miss the Premier League and Carabao Cup matches that Tottenham have coming up over the next month and a half.
The ban could not have come at a worse time for Ange Postecoglou, given that the Lilywhites have some really important games coming up.
Here are the seven fixtures that Bentancur will miss:
- Manchester City (A), Premier League, November 23
- Fulham (H), Premier League, December 1
- Bournemouth (A), Premier League, December 5
- Chelsea (H), Premier League, December 8
- Southampton (A), Premier League, December 15
- Manchester United (H), Carabao Cup, December 19
- Liverpool (H), Premier League, December 22.
Bentancur will be a huge miss for Tottenham
This spell is an extremely tricky one, with the Premier League clashes against Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and the Carabao Cup clash against Man Utd, potentially being season-defining fixtures for Spurs.
Bournemouth away has also been a tricky fixture for many top clubs this season, and Bentancur’s energy and technical quality in the middle of the park will be sorely missed.
However, this does provide an opportunity for Yves Bissouma to showcase what he can do while Archie Gray might also get a chance to play in his best position.