Why Rodrigo Bentancur can play for Tottenham against Rangers and Roma despite FA ban

Rodrigo Bentancur will still be able to play for Tottenham Hotspur in certain matches over the upcoming weeks despite being handed a seven-game ban from the FA on Monday.

That suspension came as the result of a racist remark made about teammate Son Heung-Min and the South Korea national team this summer on a Uruguayan TV show. Bentancur suggested that Son and his teammates all 'looked the same' in a clip that was well circulated online.

Spurs captain Son and the club issued statements at the time criticising the midfielder's words but looking to move on from the matter. However, the results of an FA investigation have led to the suspension and a £100,000 fine.

The time on the sidelines means that Bentancur will definitely miss Premier League and Carabao Cup fixtures between now and Boxing Day, when he could return against Nottingham Forest. He will sit out of league matches against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

However, Bentancur will be able to play in the side's upcoming Europa League matches as the FA ban does not apply to European matches. Ange Postecoglou's side face Roma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 28 before travelling to Rangers on December 12.

Bentancur has appeared in three of Spurs' four Europa League matches so far this term having made 15 appearances in all competitions. It's been a fairly strong start to the Europa League campaign for the London outfit with wins over Qarabag FK, Ferencvaros and AK Alkmaar before defeat to Galatasaray earlier this month.

The side currently sits seventh in the Europa League table with four fixtures left to play before the round of 16. The top eight in the division will proceed through to the knockout stage automatically with sides from ninth to 24th entering a play-off round.

The upcoming two fixtures against Roma and Rangers are the only two times that Bentancur will be able to play for the club between now and the end of his suspension.

Rodrigo Bentanur handed FA ban

Confirming the ban, an FA statement on Monday read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

"It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute. It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

"Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing."