Tottenham lose key star in fresh blow as Ange Postecoglou could be forced into system change at Man City

Rodrigo Bentancur could be set to be banned for seven domestic games for making a ‘racist comment’ about his Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min, according to a report from The Sun.

The 27-year-old Uruguayan midfielder was charged by the FA in September for an "aggravated breach" of the rules and faced a ban ranging from six to 12 matches .It remains unclear whether the ban will take effect immediately, but if it does, Bentancur would miss the crucial match against Manchester City, which has become a must-win for the club after their loss to Ipswich this weekend.

Manager Ange Postecoglou has already beaten Manchester City this season, but they may need to rethink their strategy against Pep Guardiola’s side, who have lost their last five games and are increasingly under pressure to turn things around.

If Bentancur were to miss the game, Postecoglou would have several options to explore, including a like-for-like replacement in Yves Bissouma, who has been inconsistent this season, or a potential shift in tactics to a four-man midfield to protect the back line. Tottenham have largely played a 4-3-3 system under Postecoglou, but they may now consider a change given their recent inconsistencies.

The Bentancur Controversy

In June, Bentancur faced criticism after suggesting that all South Korean people "look the same" during an interview on Uruguayan TV. According to the translation reported by The Sun, when asked by a reporter, "Can you get me the shirt from the Korean?" Bentancur responded: "Sonny?"

The journalist then clarified, "Or any other champion," to which the midfielder replied: "Or any cousin of Sonny; they all look more or less the same."

Bentancur has since issued public and private apologies, but the FA is now finalising its verdict, which is expected to send a strong message about its zero-tolerance stance on racism.