Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a four-match suspension from international duty with Uruguay following his involvement in a post-match altercation during the Copa America semifinal against Colombia in July.
The Incident
The incident occurred at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte after Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to Colombia. Bentancur, along with several of his teammates, was involved in a brawl that erupted between players and fans. The situation escalated when Colombian supporters entered an area occupied by the families of Uruguay players.
During the chaos, Bentancur was filmed throwing water bottles into the crowd. Unfortunately, one of these bottles struck and injured a member of the Uruguayan staff who was attempting to manage the situation.
The Punishment
As a result of his actions, CONMEBOL, the South American soccer governing body, has imposed the following penalties on Bentancur:
- A four-match suspension from international fixtures for Uruguay
- A fine of $16,000
It’s important to note that this suspension applies only to international matches and does not affect Bentancur’s availability for Tottenham Hotspur in domestic competitions.
Impact on Uruguay
Bentancur’s suspension will likely see him miss Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. The ESPN report suggests he may be eligible to return to the Uruguay squad in November, ironically for a match against Colombia.
Other Players Affected
Bentancur wasn’t the only player punished for the incident. Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez received a five-match ban, while Mathías Olivera, Ronald Araujo, and José María Giménez were each suspended for three matches. Several other Uruguay players also faced fines for their involvement in the altercation.
While the suspensions are significant, there has been no indication of any additional penalties from FIFA that could affect the players’ club commitments. As such, Bentancur will be available for Tottenham as soon as he recovers from his recent concussion and is cleared to play by manager Ange Postecoglou.
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