"I Can't Do This Here"... Son Heung-min, Who Used to Sign Autographs Well, Waved Off for a Reason

Fan Requests Signature on FC Barcelona Uniform
Son Heung-min: "I Can't Sign Other Teams' Uniforms"

Son Heung-min is refusing a fan's autograph request. [Photo by Instagram user 'sunnywithsonny', video capture]

Son Heung-min is drawing attention for refusing a fan's request for an autograph. Given that Son Heung-min is usually known for his excellent fan service, the reason behind his refusal is attracting interest.

On the 8th, a video was posted on social media (SNS) showing Son Heung-min rejecting a foreign fan's request for an autograph. In the video, the foreign fan approaches Son Heung-min, holding out a uniform and a pen, asking for his autograph. However, Son Heung-min responds in English, "I cannot sign here." Since Son Heung-min is well known for his good fan service, netizens who saw the scene expressed surprise.

There was a reason behind Son Heung-min's action. It turned out that the uniform the foreign fan offered for signing was an FC Barcelona uniform from Spain's La Liga. As the captain of Tottenham, Son Heung-min politely declined the fan's request, saying he could not sign on another team's uniform. Not only Son Heung-min but most football players tend to avoid signing on uniforms unrelated to their own team, as it is considered a betrayal of loyalty to their club's fans.

Netizens who heard the news responded enthusiastically with comments such as "Loyal Son Heung-min is so cool," "Only good stories come out about him," "How can someone be this perfect," "I want to get Sonny's autograph too," "Asking for an autograph on another team's uniform is really rude," "Sonny even refuses sweetly," "Fan service is definitely Sonny," and "Please give me a chance to be refused too."

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Son Heung-min has refused an autograph request. Earlier in February, he declined when a domestic fan asked him to sign the back of a T-shirt. The T-shirt the fan was holding was a rare 1990s retro Tottenham Hotspur uniform. Son Heung-min politely refused, saying, "I can't do that. I'm afraid I might ruin it."