14 February 2024 , 12:53
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Kang-in Lee has apologised to Son Heung-min after the Tottenham star broke his finger following a 'table tennis bust-up' while on duty with South Korea at the Asia Cup.
The incident occurred on the eve of Korea's shock 2-0 semi-final defeat against Jordan last week. It's claimed Son took issue with some younger members of the squad playing ping pong during dinner.
The Spurs forward was furious when those players scoffed their food quickly in order to leave and play table tennis. Son tried to usher them back, but a row then broke out. According to the Yonhap News Agency, Son grabbed the collar of Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee, who then threw a punch back. Although Lee didn't connect, both players had to be pulled apart and Son dislocated his finger in the process.
Nine days on since the clash, Lee has now posted an apology to Son on social media. "It was reported that I had an altercation with Son ahead of the Asian Cup semi-final," he said on Wednesday morning.
"I have caused great disappointment to all those football fans who support the national team. I am so sorry. I should have listened to the older players and I apologise for not showing a good attitude.
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"I apologise to the many people who are disappointed in me. I am well aware of how invested fans are in me as a player. From now on, I will try to support the senior players and become a better player and person."
Korea were widely tipped to win the Asia Cup, but crashed out to Jordan, who sit 64 places below them in the FIFA rankings, increasing the pressure on boss Jurgen Klinsmann. However, speaking following their dismal defeat against Jordan, Klinsmann revealed he would not resign from his role.
Son Heung-min played against Jordan with taped up fingers (Simon Holmes/Getty Images)He said: "I'm not planning to do anything. I'm planning to analyse this tournament, to go with the team back to Korea and then talk to the federation about what was good and what was not so good in that tournament.
"I think there was a lot of good stuff that we saw. There's a team that is growing, a team that still has to develop towards the World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada over the next few years, with a very difficult qualifying campaign. So there's a lot of work ahead of us."
As for Son, he returned to the Tottenham squad for the visit of Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. The 31-year-old came on as a second-half substitute to help Spurs come from behind to beat the Seagulls and jump back into the top four. Ange Postecoglou's side are next in action when they host Wolves this weekend.
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