Rodrigo Bentancur punishment decision confirmed after Tottenham star’s appeal against seven-game ban

RODRIGO BENTANCUR’S appeal against his seven-game ban for racism has failed.

The Tottenham midfielder had hoped to cut the lengthy suspension by one match, meaning he would be available for Sunday’s hosting of league-leaders Liverpool.

But an independent appeal board has dismissed his claim so will be unavailable for the clash with Arne Slot’s Reds, as well as Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

He has already missed Premier League games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton.

The ex-Juventus man, though, has been allowed to play in the Europa League.

Bentancur, 27, was slapped with a seven-game suspension for bigoted comments aimed towards Spurs team-mate Son Heung-min.

The Uruguayan used the racial slur while appearing in a TV interview in his homeland in June.

He was asked by the interviewer to provide a shirt belonging to a Spurs player.

And Bentancur replied: “Sonny’s? I could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

Bentancur was also hit with a £100,000 fine and ordered to take part in a mandatory face-to-face education programme.

Spurs accepted the charge but felt seven games was “severe” and so appealed.

But the original ban was upheld.

The FA said in a statement on Tuesday: “An independent Appeal Board has dismissed an appeal by Rodrigo Bentancur in relation to his recent suspension.

“An independent Regulatory Commission imposed a seven-match suspension on the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder for an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

“This appeal was dismissed following a hearing, and the seven-match suspension remains as ordered by the Regulatory Commission.”