Sport
Postecoglou: We Will Support Bentancur the Right Way to Move Forward
Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, described midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur as an “exceptional person” following the Uruguayan player’s punishment for using racist language this week.
According to the German News Agency (DPA), the English Football Association (FA) suspended Bentancur for seven matches on Monday due to comments he made about his teammate Son Heung-min during a preseason interview.
Tottenham has appealed the “severe” sanction, which exceeds the minimum standard penalty for misconduct or offensive language.
Postecoglou backed Tottenham’s stance, telling Sky Sports:
“We will work with Rodrigo during his suspension to ensure he has our full support in all the right ways, so when he’s available again, he’ll be ready to move forward.”
The coach added, in comments reported by British news agency PA Media:
“I haven’t spoken to him since the punishment was announced. He’s been away with Uruguay and hasn’t returned yet. However, I spoke to him beforehand.”
He explained:
“As I said back then, he knows he made a mistake and is ready to accept whatever punishment is handed down. We will support him.”
Postecoglou emphasized:
“One thing I can’t deny, from knowing him, is that he’s a fantastic person—a great teammate with a wonderful character. He made a mistake, and when that happens, our role is to support him in any way we can.”
Bentancur issued an apology to Son on Instagram following his comments during a June television interview in Uruguay. During the interview, Bentancur was asked to display a Tottenham player’s jersey, to which he replied:
“Son’s jersey? Maybe it’s his cousin’s too, as they all look alike.”
Son, captain of South Korea’s national team, accepted Bentancur’s apology in a social media post.
