By Sam Mcevoy and Luke Power For Mailonline
10:14 14 Feb 2024, updated 10:28 14 Feb 2024
- Son Heung-min dislocated his finger after a row while on South Korea duty
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The chaotic circumstances surrounding how Son Heung-min dislocated his finger on the eve of South Korea’s humiliating Asian Cup exit have been revealed.
A bust-up erupted between Son and team-mates while they were eating on the eve of their semi-final clash with Jordan, which they lost 2-0 on February 6.
Reports claimed that a number of young players in the squad had rushed eating their meal so they could dash off and play table tennis which infuriated Son, with the situation further escalating from there.
However, more details have since emerged on what exactly transpired that night which saw the South Korea and Spurs captain walk away with a nasty finger injury.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency first reported that Son initially tried to talk to the younger players – including PSG starlet Lee Kang-in – about bonding with their team-mates instead of rushing off to play table tennis.
The incident then turned physical when they refused to listen to their skipper, which saw a furious Son grab Lee.
In a moment of madness, the PSG forward tried to punch Son in retaliation before the two players had to be pulled apart.
During the fracas, Son dislocated his finger on his right hand and was seen sporting a bandage the next day for the match.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed on Wednesday that the reports around the incident were true.
‘It happened when some young players went up to play table tennis, and Son Heung-min and other older players took issue with it,’ an official said, as quoted by Yonhap.
‘The players exchanged a few words and Son hurt his finger in the process,’ the official added.
PSG’s Lee has since apologised for his actions in a statement made on Wednesday morning.
The statement read: ‘Good afternoon. This is Lee Kang-In. There is an article that I had a dispute with Son Heung-min before the 4th quarter of the Asian Cup.
‘We are very disappointed for football fans who always support our national team. I am so sorry. I should have been in the forefront and obeyed my brothers, but I’m only sorry that I’m showing a bad side to football fans.
‘I apologise to many of you who have disappointed me. I am well aware of the interest and expectations football fans send me. From now on, I will try to help my older brothers to become a better player and a better person.’
Son still played in the 2-0 defeat by Jordan on the next day, wearing a bandage on the middle finger on his right hand.
He continued to wear the strapping across his index and middle finger as he helped Spurs secure a late 2-1 win over Brighton last Saturday.
South Korea’s exit against them was a huge shock, especially considering that Jordan had never even been past the semi-finals before.
South Korean football fans have been livid with their side’s shock exit from the competitions – in which they were seen as favourites to win.
An inquest into Jurgen Klinsmann’s reign as manager is now underway, with the Germany and Tottenham legend facing the sack for his side’s shock exit.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
