Ange Postecoglou has described Rodrigo Bentancur as “an outstanding person” and backed Tottenham’s decision to appeal the length of his seven-game ban.
Bentancur was sanctioned by the Football Association on Monday, his ban accompanied by a £100,000 fine, after comments he made about team-mate Son Heung-min in June.
He was found guilty of an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3.2, using abusive and/or insulting words with a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
The Uruguay midfielder appeared on the television show Pro La Camiseta. Host Rafa Cotelo asked for a Spurs player’s shirt to which Bentancur replied by saying: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
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Spurs accepted the guilty verdict but appealed the severity of the punishment.
Postecoglou disappointed by ban
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City, Postecoglou said: “It’s obviously disappointing because he has been great for us this year. He has been one of the ones whose football has gone up a level.
“But we understood this was kind of coming and there was an acceptance by everyone of what the penalties were. I fully support the club’s decision to appeal the severity of the ban.
“Ultimately we know it is going to be for x number of games.
“We will work with Rodrigo through that and make sure within that time he has our support in all the right ways, so when he is available again he is ready to go.”
The 27-year-old will miss the league clashes with City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool and the EFL Cup quarter-final with Manchester United, although he will be available for the club’s games in the Europa League.
His next league appearance is likely to come against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
‘A person of the utmost character’
Bentancur is not back from international duty and Postecoglou has yet to speak to him since the verdict was announced.
“I spoke to him in the lead up to it,” said the Australian. “As I said at the time, he understands he has made a mistake and is prepared to accept whatever penalty comes his way.
“As a club we are going to support him because, the one thing that is undeniable to me because I know him, he is an outstanding person, an unbelievable team-mate, a person of the utmost character who has made a mistake.”
