Lee Kang-in’s lawyer has denied allegations of a physical confrontation between the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min during the recent Asian Cup, clarifying that no such altercation took place on the sidelines.
On Thursday, as per Korean reports (h/t Korea JoongAng Daily), Lee’s legal representative stated that he regretted his part in an altercation with Son. However, it was clarified that allegations of Lee swinging at the captain or Son grabbing him by the collar are inaccurate.
According to reports from the JoongAng Ilbo, a situation arose when some younger team members, including Lee, Seol Young-woo, and Jeong Woo-yeong, hurried through dinner to engage in a game of table tennis. Son, possibly accompanied by senior teammates, encouraged the younger players to return to the table to foster team cohesion.
However, the younger players purportedly disagreed, leading to a disagreement that escalated into some form of confrontation. Initially reported by Britain’s The Sun, which claimed a physical altercation resulting in Son dislocating his finger, the Korean media later elaborated, suggesting that Son seized Lee by the collar, prompting Lee to retaliate with a swing, resulting in Son’s finger injury during the subsequent separation.
It’s important to note that verifiable sources have substantiated none of these reports. The only official statements to date come from the Korea Football Association (KFA), confirming an altercation between Son and another player, with Lee apologizing for his involvement in the dispute.
