Why has Rodrigo Bentancur been sanctioned by the FA and Enzo Fernandez hasn’t?

Rodrigo Bentancur was right this moment handed a seven-game ban by the Soccer Affiliation for feedback he made about Tottenham team-mate and South Korea captain Son Heung-min.

Bentancur, who was additionally fined £100,000, will miss six Premier League video games – and the EFL Cup quarter-final in opposition to Manchester United – because of this and received’t seem for Spurs within the league once more till Boxing Day on the earliest.

He can, nonetheless, play within the Europa League.

However why was he sanctioned and but Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has no case to reply from the FA regardless of allegedly doing comparable whereas on worldwide responsibility with Argentina?

The case in opposition to Bentancur

The Uruguay midfielder was discovered responsible by the FA of an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3.2, utilizing abusive and/or insulting phrases with a reference – whether or not specific or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

He appeared on the tv present Professional La Camiseta in his homeland in June. Host Rafa Cotelo requested for a Spurs participant’s shirt to which Bentancur replied by saying: “Sonny’s? It may very well be Sonny’s cousin too as all of them look the identical.”

Bentancur swiftly expressed regret for his phrases, however denied the FA cost.

An unbiased Regulatory Fee has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 high quality on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

Full assertion: https://t.co/dr5Jw7Fwhq pic.twitter.com/yhJ2mhOPtC

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) November 18, 2024

The case in opposition to Fernandez

Fernandez posted a music on social media shortly after Argentina’s Copa America closing win over Colombia on June 14.

The video confirmed Argentina’s gamers repeating a chant that questioned the heritage of France’s black and mixed-race gamers.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana described the video as “uninhibited racism” whereas it was reported the membership’s different French gamers have been equally sad.

Chelsea opted to not take any disciplinary motion in opposition to Fernandez after he issued a face-to-face apology to his team-mates.

So, why has Bentancur been banned and Enzo Fernandez has not?

Merely, it comes all the way down to jurisdiction.

Fernandez’s alleged indiscretion got here whereas he was on the Copa America, due to this fact it falls to FIFA and/or CONMEBOL to sanction the Argentine.

If he’s punished, it should solely apply to worldwide video games.

Bentancur performed the interview with Cotelo in his personal time, and due to this fact, it falls below the Premier League’s jurisdiction to take motion.

FIFA stated in July it’s conducting an investigation into Fernandez’s video, though there has not been an replace since then.