Summary

  1. Why has Enzo Fernandez not been banned?published at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time

    Quite a few of you have messaged asking why Enzo Fernandez has not received a similar ban to Rodrigo Bentancur.

    In July, Chelsea midfielder Fernandez posted a video that the French Football Federation said included an alleged "racist and discriminatory" chant.

    The 23-year-old's French team-mate Wesley Fofana posted an image of the video on Instagram and labelled it as "uninhibited racism".

    Defender Fofana later said Fernandez is "not racist" - and added has accepted an apology from the Argentina midfielder.

    The incident is considered part of Fifa and CONMEBOL's remit as it happened at the Copa America, not the FA's.

    That effectively means Fernandez has avoided the FA's six to 12-match ban that it stipulates for discriminatory behaviour or language.

    Although it was in June, the Bentancur incident occurred on his own time, and that is under the FA's jurisdiction because he’s a participant in English football.

  2. Which games will Bentancur miss?published at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time

    Bentancur will now miss the following games for Tottenham:

    • Saturday: Man City (a)
    • 1 December: Fulham (h)
    • 5 December: Bournemouth (a)
    • 8 December Chelsea (h)
    • 15 December: Southampton (a)
    • 19 December: Man Utd (h - EFL Cup)
    • 22 December: Liverpool (h)

    Bentancur can play in Tottenham's Europa League games against Roma on 28 November and at Rangers on 12 December. The midfielder can also play in Uruguay's World Cup qualifier against Brazil on Wednesday.

    He will be eligible to return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on 26 December.

  3. What have Tottenham said?published at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tottenham have not posted anything on social media or on their website just yet.

    Back in June, the club reposted Son Heung-min's response to Rodrigo Bentancur with the caption:

    “Following a comment from Rodrigo Bentancur in an interview video clip and the player’s subsequent apology, the club has been providing assistance in ensuring a positive outcome on this 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 franchise and playing squads. Discrimination of any kind has no place at our club, within our game, or wider society.”

  4. Can Bentancur still play in the Europa League?published at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time

    Rodrigo BentancurImage source, Getty Images

    Yes.

    Rodrigo Bentancur has received a seven-match ban from the FA, which does not have jurisdiction over the Europa League.

    So, although Bentancur will not be available for Spurs' next seven domestic matches, he could still play in the Europa League.

  5. The FA's statement in fullpublished at 10:51 Greenwich Mean Time

    The Football Association said: "An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.

    "It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute. It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

    "Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing. Its written reasons for these decisions can be seen below."

  6. What was Son's response?published at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time

    In the summer, Son Heung-min said Rodrigo Bentancur had apologised to him.

    "I've spoken to Lolo," said Son in June. "He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised.

    "Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

    "We're passed this, we're united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one."

  7. What did Bentancur say?published at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time

    Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur used a racial slur when talking about team-mate Son Heung-min on Uruguayan TV in June.

    Bentancur later apologised on Instagram and said his comments were a "very bad joke".

    At the time, anti-discrimination charity Kick it Out said it had received a "significant number" of complaints about Bentancur's racial slur, which highlighted "a wider issue that heavily affects East Asian and wider communities".

  8. Bentancur banned for seven gamespublished at 10:36 Greenwich Mean Time
    Breaking

    Some breaking news.

    The FA have given Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur a seven-match suspension and a £100,000 fine for comments he made during a media interview in June.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:33 Greenwich Mean Time

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I’d like to thank Lee Carsley for a tremendous job as interim manager. 5 wins out of 6, only 3 goals conceded, and exciting football for the most part. Yes, we lost to Greece but I think they were always likely to win that game as they were playing their heart out for George Baldock. He’s left Thomas Tuchel in a great position, handing debuts to 8 extremely talented players. Delighted for THB too, watched him develop at Southampton and he deserves this. He’s been a rare positive for Saints this season. 4 goals already, he’s a real threat from set pieces.

    Lauren

  10. When is Thomas Tuchel's first England game?published at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    With Lee Carsley interim spell over, Thomas Tuchel will be in the dugout the next time England play.

    When and where that is will be dictated by the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw, which takes place on 13 December in Zurich.

    European sides will be drawn into groups of four or five teams. If England are drawn in a group of five then Tuchel's first two games in charge will be England's opening two qualifiers in March 2025.

    If they are drawn in a group of four then their qualifying campaign will begin in September, with the March slots filled by two friendlies.

    England will be in pot one of the qualifying draw because they are currently ranked fourth in the world rankings.

    Thomas TuchelImage source, Getty Images
  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time

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    It's great! New young players, confident on the ball. Genuine balance with left footers in the team. Moving away from the Harry Kane dependency and multiple debutant scorers. All under a young manager prepared to try things who is respected by the players.....Oh wait a minute....

    Anon

  12. 'Six minutes of kind of madness'published at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time

    Republic of Ireland

    HallgrimssonImage source, Getty Images

    Heimir Hallgrimsson said he was "lost for words" after his Republic of Ireland side "gave up" during a second-half collapse that led to a crushing 5-0 Nations League defeat by England at Wembley.

    "Six minutes of kind of madness," he said. "Yeah, it was a shock, conceding a penalty, conceding a goal, losing a player. We probably lost our heads at this moment, leading into a second goal and a third goal. And from there you can see, yeah, we maybe lost our head, gave up."

    The former Iceland boss, who replaced Stephen Kenny earlier this year, added: "We've talked and I said before we're struggling with confidence, and they clearly took away all confidence from what we did really well in the first half.

    "So, yeah, you cannot explain things like this. It's just happened, a slap in the face and was difficult to come back from it."

  13. 'Carsley will now return to the Under-21s'published at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time

    England

    The Football Association's chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has paid tribute to Lee Carsley.

    Bullingham said: "I would like to thank Lee Carsley and his coaching team for their hard work and results in the last six games.

    "Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.

    "He has selected some exciting new players and will be providing Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry with a very detailed handover as they start work on our qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    "The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles. Lee will now return to the Under-21s and will continue to play a vital role supporting the seniors by developing England’s best young players.

    "His leadership and coaching gives us the best possible chance of back-to-back U21 Euro wins next summer, and he will continue to play a big part in elite football development across the FA."

    Mark BullinghamImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'We lost our heads' - Hallgrimssonpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time

    Republic of Ireland

    Heimir HallgrimssonImage source, Getty Images

    Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson speaking to RTE:

    "First half was like we wanted it but it's easy to say we had a good first half but when you lose 5-0 there's nothing you can say."

    Asked if the red card denied the Irish a possible result, he added: "We'll never know that. It was six, eight minutes of madness, ending up with conceding a penalty. Losing the ball is one thing, not reacting is another and conceding a penalty, losing a player, it was a lot of shock. 1-0 and then in your face you get a second and I just felt we lost our heads at that moment. After that, there was no way back.

    "We kind of just gave up. Easy to stand outside and criticise the players but it was a crazy moment that killed everything, not only the gameplan but the momentum and fight seemed to be taken away from them.

    "There is hardly anything I can say now. You try to pick the positives and the positive was the first half."

  15. Wembley dugout can be lonely - Carsleypublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time

    Lee CarsleyImage source, Getty Images

    Lee Carsley says the Wembley dugout can be "a lonely place when you're not winning" as he reflects on his England tenure.

    Carsley won five out of his six games in interim charge but admits he is still frustrated by his only defeat - a 2-1 home loss by Greece when he named an experimental attacking line-up.

    "Even though we won five of the six, I straight away go back to that game we should have won at Wembley," he added.

    "It's definitely a lonely place in that dugout when you're not winning at Wembley. We’ll keep improving and keeping pushing the players and ourselves."

    Reflecting on his spell in charge as a whole, he added: "I definitely felt like I have been out of my comfort zone but not beyond my capabilities. I never felt at any point I was drowning or I was struggling.

    "I've taken the confidence that myself and the rest of the staff will be OK. I think we have got stronger as the [international] windows have gone on.

    "You are always learning a lot about yourself when you're in a position you are not used to. I think the most pleasing thing is the younger players coming through."

  16. get involved

    Get Involved - Q&A with Phil McNultypublished at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time

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    Phil McNulty

    BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty will be in the chair shortly.

    Send in your questions for Phil and he'll try to answer as many as he can.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Some on here are not seeing any reason to smile about England going up to the top tier in the NL. I wonder if these are the same fans who groaned and grumbled when England went down. It seems you just can't win being England manager.

    Anon

  18. 'I think Carsley has thrown a conundrum at Tuchel'published at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time

    Stephen Kelly
    Former Republic of Ireland defender on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

    I think Carsley has thrown a conundrum at him [Thomas Tuchel] with starting Ollie Watkins. He has left the new manager in a position where he has to make a big decision.

    England dominated Ireland in the second-half but for the pressing game and for the high energy tempo that the players they have can do, you look at Watkins and think maybe he could be a starter, so it throws up a few questions.

    They need to breed success, they need to have success - they have too many good players.

    England need to be successful under Tuchel and that’s what it all comes down to.

    Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live.

  19. 'Tuchel has a wonderful opportunity to win a trophy'published at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time

    Matt Upson
    Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast.

    The biggest thing he [Lee Carsley] will take for me in terms of the handover is finding the balance in the team and if Thomas Tuchel can find that in his way, in the way that he wants to play - and for me, you have to have isolate or have in your head who that is. There may be the odd change but not frequent lots of changes in and out because it's very difficult then to know what direction you go in.

    There are positions where there is talent everywhere and it isn't easy to unpick. When you've got it all there right in front of you, you have to go in a direction.

    Getting that balance right with this team and this group of players, he has a wonderful opportunity to win a trophy.

    Listen to the Football Daily podcast in full.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time

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    Well done England! Nations League will never have the prestige of the Euros or World Cup, but I much prefer it to friendlies. It offers back door routes to bigger competitions and it gives the smaller nations a chance to play meaningful games they can actually be competitive in, rather than just waiting around to get trounced in qualifiers.

    Sean