Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur on Monday was banned by the English Football Association for a racist remark about North Korean people while talking about colleague Son Heung-min in a TV programme.

In June, on Uruguayan television programme Por La Camiseta, host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s shirt, to which he replied, “Sonny’s?”, adding: “Or one of Sonny’s cousins as they all look more or less the same.” He would later later apologis on social media, saying that the comments were a “very bad joke”.

Son, meanwhile, had said later there was no bad feeling between the players.

According to the FA, the midfielder “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute”. It also added that “It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”… as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”

The 27-year old Uruguayan was initially charged by the FA in September but he denied the charge, but an independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed the sanctions, which includes a fine of 100,000 pounds.

“The Player initially showed remorse and took responsibility for his actions and offered full and (we have no doubt) sincere apologies. In our view, that was greatly to his credit,” the commission said in its written reasons.

“It was not to his credit that, thereafter, he elected to deny the charge on grounds which, on their face, undermined that initial, commendable reaction.”

As a result of the ban, even though Bentancur will still be available for Tottenham’s Europa League matches but he will not return to domestic action until December 26 which means he will miss Premier League games against Manchester City on Saturday as well as home clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea in December, among others. He will also miss the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

(With agency inputs)