Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in will be reunited next week — here's the background on their Asian Cup tiff and efforts to bury the hatchet

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Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in will be reunited next week — here's the background on their Asian Cup tiff and efforts to bury the hatchet

Published: 11 Mar. 2024, 17:02

JIM BULLEY
jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr

Son Heung-min, right, and Lee Kang-in discuss tactics before taking a free kick during an Asian Cup group stage game against Bahrain in Doha on Jan. 15. [YONHAP]

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in will be back home in Korea at the national team training camp next week. It’s been a rocky month for Korea’s two most famous footballers — here’s everything that happened.

Feb. 5 | Son and Lee are involved in an altercation at the Asian Cup

Son and Lee were involved in an altercation the night before Korea’s final game at the Asian Cup, when the captain took umbrage at a group of younger players’ decision to leave dinner early and play table tennis.

Older players, including Son, reportedly found this behavior either offensive, a break from tradition, or damaging to morale — depending on which reports you read — and Son confronted the younger players.

A physical scuffle reportedly took place resulting in an injury to Son’s finger — for which he is still wearing bandages today. But while the altercation has been confirmed by both Lee and the KFA, details of a physical fight remain unconfirmed.

Feb. 6 | Korea lose 2-0 to Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Cup

It was a disappointing exit to the Asian Cup for the Taeguk Warriors. Both Son and Lee were despondent, with Lee telling reporters after the game; “If people want to take their shots at anyone, they can blame me.”

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, back, and Lee Kang-in react during the Asian Cup semifinal between Korea and Jordan in Qatar on Feb. 6. [YONHAP]

Feb. 13 | The Sun reports that Son hurt his finger in a fight with another player the night before the semifinal against Jordan

The KFA confirmed this report a day later, and Korean media began saying the player was Lee. He admitted to having a disagreement with Son on the same day and apologized.

Feb. 15 | Lee’s legal representatives deny reports that there was a physical fight

This version of events still stands, as nobody has ever officially confirmed that there was a physical altercation or how Son’s fingers were injured.

Feb. 20 | Son and Lee meet in London and officially bury the hatchet

“Kang-in has been having a very tough time since the incident,” Son wrote in a post on his official Instagram account. “Please forgive him one time with a generous heart. I beg you as national team captain.”

Lee apologized again and all was apparently forgiven. Lee was no longer public enemy No. 1 in Korea, although there were still some elements of the fan base that expected him to be dropped from the national team.

Son Heung-min, left, and Lee Kang-in pose together in a photo posted on Son's official Instagram account on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

March 11 | Both Son and Lee are called up for national duty next week

Unsurprisingly, interim manager Hwang Sun-hong (Jurgen Klinsmann was fired back in the middle of that mess) called up both Son and Lee for international duty during the March international break.

March 18 | Korean training camp kicks off

Both Son and Lee will be expected in training next week, although their arrival could be delayed by match and flight schedules. The pair will be reunited at some point next week, however, and will attempt — one would assume — to continue like nothing ever happened.

March 21 | Korea face Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]