Bentancur apologizes to Son Heung-min for saying all Koreans 'look the same'

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur apologized Saturday to teammate and captain Son Heung-min for saying that Koreans all "look the same" on a Uruguayan television program earlier in the week.

Tottenham Hotspur's Timo Werner, left, celebrates with Rodrigo Bentancur, center, and Son Heung-min on March 10. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur apologized Saturday to teammate and captain Son Heung-min for saying that Koreans all "look the same" on a Uruguayan television program earlier in the week.

While appearing on Uruguayan show "Por La Camiseta," Bentancur was asked by host Rafa Cotelo for a Spurs shirt.

"Sonny's?," Bentancur said. "It could be Sonny’s cousin too...they all look the same."

The clip, which was posted online earlier in the week, drew widespread condemnation.

Bentancur, who is Uruguayan, posted an apology in an Instagram story on Saturday for what he called a "very bad joke."

“Sony brother! I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke!” Bentancur wrote. “You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother!”

An apology posted on Rodrigo Bentancur's Instagram account [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Son is yet to comment publicly on the incident.

The idea that all Asians or all Koreans look the same is a common racist stereotype that has been directed at Korean celebrities and in particular K-pop stars in the past.

Son has regularly been the victim of racism from opposing fans while playing in the Premier League.

During a Spurs game against West Ham last February, multiple tweets from self-proclaimed West Ham fans calling Son a “dog eating [expletive]” were posted shortly after Son scored a goal in the 72nd minute. Tottenham and England’s Football Association called on social media companies and authorities to take action against the "utterly reprehensible online racist abuse," though it is unclear if any individual faced punishment.

And footage of a Spurs game against Crystal Palace last May showed a fan in the away end of the stadium making a racist gesture aimed at Son, who appeared to see it while walking toward the touchline. Crystal Palace handed that fan, a 44-year-old man, a three-year ban last November.

Other Korean football players in Europe have also faced racist abuse abroad, including Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan. Wolves filed a formal complaint to UEFA after a player, believed to be Hwang, was the target of racist abuse during a friendly against Portuguese side Farense — fans made racist gestures toward the striker as he prepared to take a penalty. That incident came nearly a year after Hwang's introduction at Wolves on the sidelines of a game against Manchester United in 2021 was clouded by United fans singing an offensive chant that referenced Koreans eating dog meat.

And a Serbian TV pundit last November appeared to call Red Star Belgrade midfielder Hwang In-beom North Korean leader "Kim Jong-un" during a live broadcast of a UEFA Champions League match — which Serbian football fans characterized as a small gaffe instead of an offensive remark.

Bentancur, along with the rest of the Tottenham Hotspur squad, is due to fly to Korea over the summer to take part in the Coupang Play Series in Seoul.

BY JIM BULLEY AND MARY YANG [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]