Rodrigo Bentancur loses court appeal with Tottenham star set for fine and ban
Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur is set to be hit with more punishment for the second time this season, this time on the international stage.
The off-field incident occurred last summer while with Uruguay, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announcing on Tuesday that Bentancur‘s appeal has been rejected.
The finding will come as a bitter blow to the Uruguay international, who captained Spurs in their recent 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, though he is no stranger to controversy.
The former Juventus midfielder has already lost an appeal this season and missed seven league games following his remarks about club captain Heung-Min Son.
Bentancur one of five Uruguay players to get punished
Bentancur, along with Premier League colleague Darwin Nunez, has seen his appeal against an international sanction rejected.
A total of five players clashed with fans at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte following their 1-0 semi-final defeat to Colombia in the Copa America in July 2024.
The brawl, which ensued at the full-time whistle, led to the players all being fined and banned for between three to five games.
The players launched an appeal, claiming they were acting in self-defence and protecting their families, with manager Marcelo Bielsa echoing that sentiment after that match.
Nonetheless, the appeal was unsuccessful, meaning Bentancur’s four-match ban will be upheld.
With the fans eagerly anticipating the Europa League final, they will hope this news does not distract Bentancur’s mind away from the club’s most important game of the season.
Bentancur fighting for Spurs future
Spurs have struggled with central midfield, with Ange Postecoglou often rotating his team in search of the right balance.
| Player | Starts | Substituted in |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 35 | 6 |
| Pape Matar Sarr | 30 | 22 |
| Yves Bissouma | 26 | 15 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 24 | 21 |
Bentancur only returned to regular action this year after an 18-month injury layoff, and fans were hoping he could recapture the form he showed in his first season at the club.
His performances, much like the team’s, have been largely disappointing, especially as the sole number 6, where he has been constantly exposed and couldn’t get a grip on proceedings.
Yves Bissouma‘s return to the starting lineup has helped Bentancur look more formidable in the centre of the park, but with two years left on his contract, Spurs may look to cash in on their man this summer.