LONDON — On Monday, Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur received a seven-match suspension along with a £100,000 ($126,000) fine from the English Football Association for making an inappropriate remark concerning South Koreans. This comment was made in relation to his Spurs teammate, Son Heung-min.

In a statement, the association confirmed the independent commission’s ruling, emphasizing the seriousness of Bentancur’s actions.

The incident occurred during a Uruguayan television show in June, where Bentancur was asked about obtaining a jersey from a Tottenham player. He jokingly suggested, “Sonny’s?” then went on to reference Son’s relatives by claiming, “more or less they are all the same.”

Following backlash, Bentancur took to Instagram to apologize to Son, labeling his remark as a “very bad joke” and expressing remorse, insisting he would never intend to disrespect or harm his teammate.

In September, the English FA charged Bentancur with misconduct, citing that he had acted improperly and used language that was abusive or insulting. The governing body characterized the offense as an aggravated breach due to its derogatory implications tied to nationality and race.

These developments highlight the prevailing issues of discrimination within sports, emphasizing the necessity for athletes to be mindful of their words and actions, given their significant impact.