Son Heung-min has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain star Lee Kang-in has apologised to him after the altercation that occurred among the South Korean squad during the Asian Cup, with the Tottenham star also taking responsibility for his own role in the incident.
According to reports, on the eve of Korea’s semi-final loss in the tournament, a scuffle broke out in their camp.
Various sources have suggested that Son took issue with some of the younger players in the squad, including Lee, leaving dinner early to play ping-pong, with the Spurs star viewing it as an opportunity for the side to bond.
It was revealed that after a few fiery words were exchanged, an altercation then broke out among the players (The Sun). It has been suggested that Son dislocated his finger while trying to break up his teammates (Football. London).
As one would expect, this has made big headlines back in the East Asian country, with some fans understandably wondering if the division in the camp was the reason for the team’s poor showing against Jordan in the semi-final.
Heung-min Son issues a statement on social media
Son has now addressed the matter head-on, insisting that Lee will learn from his mistake and urging fans to forgive the attacking midfielder.
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The 31-year-old wrote on Instagram: “Hello, this is Son Heung-min. Today, I want to address a somewhat serious and difficult matter. Kang-in has sincerely reflected on his actions and offered heartfelt apologies to me and all the players of the national team.
“I, too, have made many mistakes and shown undesirable behaviour when I was young, but each time, I had the sharp advice and teachings of good seniors, which I believe have led me to where I am today.
“To ensure that Kang-in never repeats such misconduct, all of us players, as senior members and leaders of the national team, will be especially supportive to help Kang-in grow into a better person and player. I do not believe I handled the situation well and recognize that my actions deserved criticism.
“However, as a captain, I believe it is one of my duties to take such unpleasant actions for the sake of the team. Even if faced with the same situation again, I will act in the best interest of the team. However, I will strive to lead my teammates more smartly and more wisely in the future.
“Since that incident, Kang-in has been going through a very difficult time. Please forgive him with a generous heart. As the captain of the national team, I earnestly ask for this.
“Also, rumours circulating about division within the national team are irrelevant to the truth. We have always strived to see only one team and one goal. Despite receiving so much love through football I am sincerely sorry for causing such a disruptive issue.”
“Moving forward, we will work even harder to ensure that the South Korean national team grows stronger from this experience. Once again, I sincerely apologize as the captain of the South Korean national team.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Son has once again shown terrific leadership by coming out and addressing the issue head-on and expressing support for his teammates. As one would expect from the Tottenham man, he has shown his class by also taking responsibility for his own role in the incident.
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