Tottenham dealt midfield blow ahead of Man City Premier League fixture as FA charge confirmed

Tottenham Hotspur will be without midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium after he was handed a seven-match ban.

The Uruguayan international has been banned by the Football Association [FA] and fined £100,000 for using a racial slur about Spurs teammate Son Heung-min during the summer.

Bentancur, 27, was charged by the FA in September after comments he made about Son while appearing on Uruguayan TV.

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During the TV appearance in question, Bentancur was asked by a presenter for a Tottenham shirt. Answering the question, the midfielder said: "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

Bentancur later apologised to Son, who said he would "not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive."

Charging the midfielder earlier this year, the FA said it was "an alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview".

Issuing a statement in response to their decision to give Bentancur a seven-game ban and fine him £100,000 the FA said: "Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing."

The 27-year-old's seven-game ban will only apply to domestic matches, ruling him out of six Premier League fixtures and Spurs' Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next month. He will still be available for selection for the Londoners' Europa League assignments.

Bentancur has made 15 appearances for Spurs across all