Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and the fight that dislocated a finger and rocked South Korea's Asian Cup

The physical altercation that left Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea captain Son Heung-min with a dislocated finger had been in the making for a few weeks.

The South Korean side for the Asian Cup, played in Qatar last month, had been far from harmonious, with divisions everywhere. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann divided opinion, and he himself is said to have thought there was a lack of team spirit in the group, with some division between the big players such as Son, Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Paris Saint. -Germain's Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, and the less experienced.

Son, the 31-year-old captain, is said to have felt that some younger players were not taking part in the tournament – the quadrennial equivalent of the Euro or the Asian federation's Copa America, and a competition that South Korea had not won. won for 64 years – seriously enough, while people like 22-year-old Lee rejected the suggestion.

A source close to one of the players said this The Athletics Last week the group failed to produce a single performance in the six games, three in the group and three games in the knockout stages, it was 100 percent collective.

It all came to a head last Monday, the night before their 2-0 semi-final defeat to Jordan, when some younger players, including Lee, wanted to leave the team dinner early to play table tennis.

Son objected and made his point strongly, prompting a similarly candid response from Lee. An altercation ensued involving a number of players, with Son dislocating a finger while trying to break things up. It is also alleged that Lee was pushed in the chest and reacted angrily.

A spokesperson for the South Korean FA (KFA) confirmed that the altercation had taken place, telling the Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday that: “It happened when some young players went upstairs to play table tennis, and Son Heung-min and other older players objected to that. with it.

“The players exchanged a few words and Son hurt his finger.”

The Athletics has contacted the KFA for further comment.

What happened next is disputed. It has been suggested that some of the squad told Klinsmann that Lee should be dropped for the semi-final. Others have denied that this happened, and Son, for example, is said to like Lee and have no problems with him. One view is that it was more about maintaining general norms and behavior.

Be that as it may, there is clearly a great sense of discontent among those involved with South Korea in the Asian Cup. And these revelations raise several questions.

The first is why the usually reserved KFA confirmed the story so quickly. It is suggested domestically that they did this to divert attention from the hugely unpopular Klinsmann, who most supporters want sacked after a suitably dismal Asian Cup campaign. They reached the semi-finals but fought their way there – drawing two of their three group matches and then winning one knockout draw on penalties and another after extra time, both after scoring the equalizer in stoppage time – and were never convincing.

“Are you planning to resign?” was the first question asked of Klinsmann at his post-tournament press conference, held at Incheon Airport in Seoul, immediately after the team arrived home, where a baying crowd had gathered.

Others believe the story was leaked by those who want the 59-year-old former Germany, Bayern and United States manager fired to show how things have spiraled out of control under his leadership.

Klinsmann, appointed just under a year ago, is said to be surprised by the lack of harmony and team spirit in the group. He felt that those dramatic wins against Saudi Arabia and Australia could boost the players as they progressed through the knockout rounds, but instead, after the shock defeat to Jordan in the semi-finals, he publicly said that their opponents had more desire than his players, adding: “They wanted it more.”

There is a lot of pressure not only on Klinsmann, but also on the man who hired him: KFA president Chung Mong-gyu. Chung embarked on the search that ended with the former Germany, Tottenham, Bayern and Inter Milan striker getting the job and looking for a big-name manager who would boost the country's global profile, and it is said he was determined is to bring this project to a successful conclusion. The two men have met twice since the defeat in Jordan and both appear keen to continue despite the public hostility. “Nice question!” Klinsmann laughed when asked whether he would resign.

In the meantime, The Athletics reported on Sunday that Klinsmann held very intensive training sessions during a pre-Asian Cup camp in Abu Dhabi. A source with knowledge of the situation, who spoke anonymously to protect relationships, said the players were “confused” and that “he was absolutely abusing them, they were exhausted.”

That was the context for Monday's physical altercation, with tensions heightened by the fact that this squad is seen as South Korea's golden generation of players, including stars from PSG, Bayern and Spurs, plus in-form Hwang of Wolves.

The feeling that South Korea lost its best chance in years for a first Asian Cup since 1960 pervaded the mood last Monday, the night before the defeat in Jordan.

And according to insiders, there have been stories about internal problems within the national team for some time now. Although the age-based hierarchy of Korean society on the night in question is no longer as strict as it used to be, it is still tradition that it is considered bad manners if the younger players get up to leave before the older ones left. finished eating.

Lee said he would have more respect for the seniors in the future in a message posted to his Instagram story on Wednesday: “There was an article about me having a verbal argument with Son ahead of the Asian semi-final Cup.

“I am very sorry to disappoint football fans who always support the South Korean international team.

“I had to follow senior (older) players in the team, but I regret that I did not show nice behavior towards football fans.

“I apologize to all the fans who were disappointed in me.

“I will try to be a better player from now on and a person who helps seniors and older players.”

The majority of South Korean fans side with Son and the more experienced players, and Lee is widely criticized for behaving this way towards the team's captain, who is nine years older than him. There is also the view that this is more about general dysfunction within the national team set-up rather than individuals.

It's too early to know how this will affect the players' long-term reputation, or their desire to continue playing for their country. Klinsmann said on Sunday that Son would “definitely” continue playing for Korea.

Klinsmann himself will hold a meeting with the KFA on Thursday as the fallout from the Asian Cup exit continues. Reports in South Korea indicate that members of the governing body will push for his resignation at the meeting. The German, who has two and a half years left on his contract until the 2026 World Cup, will attend virtually as he is now back home in the US.

South Korea are back in action in just over a month, in a home World Cup match against Thailand on March 21, which will likely require the mother of all reconciliation jobs.

Additional reporting: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Mario Cortegana, Tim Spiers

(Top photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)