For those of you who aren’t following every tidbit and morsel of news in the Tottenham Hotspur cinematic universe, you may have missed a recent incident where Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur inserted his foot firmly into his mouth. And that’s an understatement.
Bentancur was recently interviewed on Uruguayan television program Por La Camiseta (translated as For The Shirt), a show that as I understand is focused on interviews with Uruguayan footballers living outside of their native country. He was naturally asked by host Rafa Cotelo about captain Son Heung-Min, not only a South Korean superstar, but a global one as well, and whether Bentancur could get him a shirt.
Bentancur’s response? “Sonny’s? It could be his cousin too, as they all look the same.”
The clip very quickly went viral and prompted a deluge of (deserved) internet outrage. Stating that people of Asian descent look the same is a harmful, racist trope that has somehow persisted into the 21st century, and for a Spurs player (or anyone, that matter) to engage in such dialogue is not okay. Rodrigo very quickly realized what he had done (though likely more from observing the internet reaction as opposed to his own personal revelation of wrongdoing) and quickly posted an apology on social media:
It’s a start, though you can argue not a very good one. Bentancur does come across as contrite for his comment, but describing it as a “very bad joke” as opposed to an offensive statement that perpetuates a longstanding racist trope about people of Asian descent doesn’t really help Lolo’s cause here.
The reaction has been swift and fierce from many corners of the Tottenham fanbase. Many Spurs fans are vocally upset, not just about Bentancur’s insensitivity and his (admittedly sincere) attempt to brush it under the carpet with a token apology, but by what has felt like the club’s silence on the issue. Korean fans are particularly upset, with some calling for Bentancur to be sold, and wondering why Son is forced to carry the burden of systemic racism directed at Asian footballers.
The furor reached such a fever pitch that prominent UK-based anti-racism in football organization Kick It Out issued a statement condeminng Bentancur’s comments, but calling attention to the wider issue of racism directed towards members of the East Asian community.
Kick It Out has received a significant number of reports about Rodrigo Bentancur’s comments regarding his Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min. These reports have already been sent to the club and relevant authorities.
We recognise Bentancur has acknowledged the offence caused, however it highlights a wider issue that heavily affects East Asian and wider communities. We’ll be seeking to address these broader issues in the coming season.
If you see it, or hear it, report it.
— Statement, Kick It Out
Well, Sonny and the club did make a statement this morning. Son posted a message on Instagram acknowledging that he’s spoken with Lolo about what happened, he’s accepted his teammate’s apology, and that he’s ready to move on from what happened.
The club then issued a statement of its own on social media piggy-backing off of Son, and saying the issue has been and continues to be addressed behind the scenes, noting in particular that all Tottenham players receive DEI-related education. The implication is that the matter has been dealt with internally, and to the satisfaction of all parties involved.
Following a comment from Rodrigo Bentancur in an interview video clip and the player’s subsequent public apology, the Club has been providing assistance in ensuring a positive outcome on the matter. This will include further education for all players in line with our diversity, equality and inclusion objectives.
We fully support that our captain Sonny feels that he can draw a line under the incident and that the team can focus on the new season ahead.
We are extremely proud of our diverse, global fanbase and playing squads. Discrimination of any kind has no place at our Club, within our game or within wider society.
— Tottenham Hotspur
But is it though? It’s a tricky and incredibly nuanced issue. It’s possible for someone, anyone really, to “do a racism.” That doesn’t always mean the perpetrator is “a racist,” but even careless or accidental racist statements or actions deserve to be called out and consequences levied for what has been said or done.
What is clear is that Sonny has said numerous times over his career in interviews that he has been the victim of systemic and pervasive racism against Asians and others who look like him. Just last year Son was the target of racist abuse from a Crystal Palace supporter, and there has been more than one incident of racist abuse directed at him in matches against West Ham. Back in 2019, in an interview Son admitted that he’s been the target of racist abuse a few times since coming to England, and that the best way to deal with it is just not to react.
“You know, we have been talking about racism a few times… And I have [suffered] racism a few times since playing in England. I think the best reaction is not to react…
“We are playing football as humans. It doesn’t matter which country you come from… We are playing football, one sport, together.
“I think we should protect players who [suffer from] racism and fight together. I think that’s the most important.”
Some readers have wondered why this blog hasn’t addressed this incident before now. It’s a fair question, and the primary reason is that Dustin (as managing editor) wanted to wait for some of the dust to settle and see whether the club acknowledged and addressed the incident before rushing to judgment. We want to acknowledge that what Bentancur said about Korean people was racist, stupid, and ill-advised. We also will not assign motive to what Bentancur said about Son and East Asians, because we do not know what is in his heart, only what he has said.
On the one hand, Lolo’s apology, Son’s Insta post, and the club’s statement is a clear intent to, as was stated, “draw a line” under the incident and move on. From a PR perspective, I’m not sure the club could’ve done much more — they acknowledged what happened, have indicated that Sonny and Bentancur have come to an agreement, noted that players are receiving DEI education to prevent these things from happening in the first place, and that everyone’s ready to put it behind them. All of that is fantastic, and suggestive that the club takes DEI and issues like this one very seriously.
But it’s still a tricky one, isn’t it? The club statement doesn’t really address how Bentancur’s racist statement impacts Asian or Asian-descent Spurs fans, who were also indirectly subjected to the same racist abuse. The incident also couldn’t come at a worse time with the club getting ready to jet overseas to Korea and Japan for a preseason tour to Asia in just over a month. Sonny appears to have forgiven Lolo, but I wouldn’t be quite so sure that this whole thing will have blown over with Korean fans when Bentancur lands in Seoul in July.
The implication is that Sonny has let the water go under the bridge. I’m sure he has — he’s a wonderful and forgiving person, the club captain, and a good friend. This isn’t the first time he’s been the subject of a racist remark, though I’m sure it feels different coming from a teammate rather than from an opposition player or fan.
Earlier, we said that we don’t know what’s in Bentancur’s heart. Well, the same goes for Sonny, and while I can absolutely believe that he has spoken to and forgiven Bentancur and is ready to let it all go, it does feels a little icky that the redemptive burden falls (again) upon the shoulders of the person who was racially abused and not upon the perpetrator. That puts Sonny in a precarious and awkward position.
The club hasn’t announced any public sanctions for Bentancur over the incident, and I’m not sure it will, assuming it’s being handled privately. Maybe there will be financial or educational consequences — we don’t know. There have been suggestions that Bentancur could be subject to sanctions or suspensions from the FA over what happened, and for many that would be a fair outcome. Others are calling for Bentancur to be sold this summer. I’m not so sure about that one — I (Dustin) personally think that everyone screws up now and then, sometimes in huge ways, and I’m a big believer in second chances, if they are attached to equitable social justice outcomes.
The whole thing is just sad. It’s sad that Sonny, one of the nicest men in football, is once again subject to a careless and racist “joke,” this time by his friend and teammate. It’s sad that he’s in the awkward position where his reaction to this incident is colored not just by his relationship to Bentancur, but by a perceived responsibility he has to other East Asians impacted by Lolo’s joke. And it’s sad that we’re still talking about this in the year 2024. This is the kind of thing that can break apart tightly knit communities and teams. The best possible outcome is that Bentancur changes and grows from the experience and we never have to deal with something like this again.
