LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur's Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been suspended for seven matches and fined for a racial slur against his South Korean teammate Son Heung-min, the English football body said on Monday. "An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 (over $126,000) fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview," the FA stated. According to Anadolu Agency, the accusations against Bentancur involved a breach of FA Rule E3.1 due to improper conduct, use of abusive language, and bringing the game into disrepute. The offense was considered an "aggravated breach" under FA Rule E3.2 due to its reference to nationality, race, or ethnic origin. Bentancur, who joined Tottenham from Juventus in January 2022, has been Son's teammate for over two years. The incident stemmed from a June television appearance in Uruguay where Bentancur made a racial comment about Son. Bentancur later apologized to Son on Instagram, and Son publicly accepted the apology, emphasizing their continued friendship. Despite the apology, Bentancur will miss important upcoming matches, including English Premier League games and the EFL Cup quarterfinals, but remains eligible for UEFA Europa League matches.