Son Heung-min, Cautious Even When Shaking Hands with Teammates... Still in Pain

Son Heung-min Still Wearing Finger Bandage After Returning to Tottenham
UK Media: "In Pain"...Fans Flood with Support

Amid reports that a dispute occurred among the national football team players the day before the AFC Asian Cup semifinal, foreign media reported that Son Heung-min is complaining of pain following a finger injury. On the 14th (local time), British media Football London reported, “Son Heung-min is suffering from a finger injury,” adding, “After returning to Tottenham Hotspur, he was cautious and informed his teammates about his injury even before shaking hands with them.”

[Image source=Captured from Tottenham club Instagram]

On the 15th, Son Heung-min held an open training session at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, UK. According to videos of the players arriving at the club released on Tottenham’s social media, Son was still wearing a finger protector on his right middle finger. He trained with his right index and middle fingers taped together but did not lose his bright expression. He also shared a photo with the caption, “My former teammate, Kevin Beamer.”

Fans responded with comments such as, “Hope you play happily at Tottenham,” “The one who smiles in tough times is a true professional,” and “The atmosphere is completely different. Tottenham teammates encourage Son Heung-min.”

Earlier, British tabloid The Sun reported, “Tottenham star Son Heung-min suffered a finger dislocation injury after an argument with teammates during a dinner the night before the Korean national team’s Asian Cup semifinal,” causing a major stir. According to the situation, on the 6th, Son Heung-min had an argument with Lee Kang-in and grabbed Lee Kang-in by the collar, to which Lee responded with punches. During the intervention by other players, Son’s finger was reportedly dislocated.

Jurgen Klinsmann, head coach of the national soccer team, is speaking via video conference on the 15th at the Korea Football Association in Jongno-gu, Seoul, during the 1st National Team Strengthening Committee meeting of 2024 held to evaluate the performance at the 2023 AFC Qatar Asian Cup. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The Korea Football Association confirmed the conflict, stating, “We received reports that players had a dispute during the tournament,” and “There was friction between Son Heung-min and some younger players who were on their way to play table tennis, during which Son injured his finger.” Earlier, a media outlet reported that Lee Kang-in punched Son Heung-min in the face, but Lee Kang-in’s side denied this, saying, “That is not true.”

The National Team Strengthening Committee of the Korea Football Association held a lengthy meeting on the Asian Cup results at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and decided to recommend the dismissal of head coach J?rgen Klinsmann to the association. Klinsmann, who participated via video conference, claimed that “discord among players affected the team’s performance.” However, committee members reportedly countered, saying, “He failed as a coach to establish team discipline and standards.”

The Korea Football Association plans to hold an emergency executive meeting at 10 a.m. on the 16th, attended by Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, to decide on Klinsmann’s future.