Rodrigo Bentancur could face further FA ban if he fails to complete one task.

Rodrigo Bentancur has not only been suspended for seven games and hit with a huge fine but he has also been warned that he could be banned from all domestic football until he completes one requirement.

The FA announced earlier today that an independent regulatory commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and a £100,000 fine on Bentancur for his distasteful joke about Heung-min Son a few months ago.

They explained despite Bentancur having denied the charge, the commission had ruled that his comments constituted an “aggravated breach” of the FA’s Rule E3.1.

However, a closer look at the FA’s ruling shows that Bentancur has been threatened with an even longer suspension if he does not immediately do what is asked of him.

Why Bentancur faces the danger of a longer suspension

During the FA’s announcement, they also shared a document titled “FA vs Rodrigo Bentancur” where the independent commission revealed the reasons behind their decision.

In the document, the commission explains that the Tottenham man needs to complete a mandatory face-to-face education programme by March 11, 2025.

If he fails to do so, they warn that the midfielder will be suspended from all domestic club football until the programme is completed.

Section 51 (iii) of the document reads: “The player is ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme the details of which will be provided to him by The FA, that programme is to be completed by 11 March 2025.

“If the Player fails to complete the programme satisfactorily in that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic club football until such time as the mandatory programme is completed.”

FA’s decision is not surprising

Whenever there is a breach of a rule concerning racially sensitive issues, one usually expects the offender to be put through some sort of educational program so that he/she can learn their mistakes.

Bentancur and Tottenham would have fully expected this, but it is the length of the ban and the size of the fine that might surprise them, with FA coming down hard on the 27-year-old over his comments.