Tottenham captain Son Heung-min’s father found guilty of abusing young footballers at his academy in Korea
The father and brother of Tottenham Hotspur's forward Son Heung-min have been found guilty of child abuse in South Korea. The pair alongside another coach has been fined and mandated to undertake educational programs for physically and verbally abusing young footballers in their academy in Korea.
Son's father Son Woong-jung, his brother Son Heung-yun, and an unmanned coach were charged with insulting and hitting young players in Son Woong-jung's academy. The indictment came after the parent of one young player claimed that their son was hit with a corner flag in the thigh during a training camp in Japan in March. According to the Mirror, the boy was treated for two weeks after the incident.
The Tottenham captain's father was also found guilty of using offensive words on young players in his academy for making mistakes during training sessions. Son's father, a former footballer himself, denied the offense. He claimed that he "never spoke or acted in a way that was not based on love for the children."
He, however, apologized in court and vowed to change coaching methods at the academy which started in 2021 and was hugely financed by Son Heung-min. The trio were handed a fine of three million won by the court and ordered to attend 40-hour training on anti-child abuse training.
The three coaches have until one week to launch an appeal against the court ruling.
Tottenham Hotspur's star Son Heung-min currently sidelined
Son Heung-min is currently out with a hamstring injury. The Tottenham Hotspur captain suffered the knock in the Lilywhites' UEFA Europa League clash with Azerbaijani side Qarabag on September 26. The 32-year-old was substituted in the 72nd minute as a 10-men Spurs won 3-0 at home.
He has since missed league games against Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Spurs' Europa League clash with Hungarian club Ferencvaros. He is expected to return to action after the international break.
The South Korean was named club captain last season following Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich. In his stead, the north London club finished sixth in the league, securing a spot in the Europa League league phase.
Prior to his injury, he contributed two goals and two assists in seven games for Ange Postecoglou's side. Tottenham are ninth in the table with 10 points from seven games. They will next face West Ham United at home on Saturday, October 19.