Lee Kang-in has been included in South Korea’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers despite a recent altercation with team captain Son Heung-min during the Asian Cup.
The incident occurred before South Korea’s semifinal match against Jordan, where Tottenham’s Son sustained a dislocated finger following a confrontation with Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee. While reports suggested Lee attempted to strike Son, Lee’s representatives denied this claim.
Later, Son shared a photo of the pair on social media, advocating for forgiveness towards Lee.
South Korea’s interim coach, Hwang Sun-hong, addressed the situation, stating that both players had expressed remorse and a desire to move forward. He emphasized the need for collective responsibility among players, coaches, and staff.
The disagreement reportedly stemmed from younger players, including Lee, rushing through dinner to play table tennis, contrary to the team’s usual pre-game bonding tradition. This led to tension with senior players like Son, resulting in the altercation.
Despite the incident, both Lee and Son featured in the subsequent match against Jordan. Now, they are expected to play in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Thailand on March 21 and 26.
Hwang believes that addressing such issues promptly can strengthen team unity. As the Korea Football Association seeks a new head coach, Hwang will continue his duties as the Under-23 coach, leading South Korea in the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar in April. The team aims to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Under the leadership of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann, South Korea had a successful start to World Cup qualifying with victories over Singapore and China.
