Rising tensions within the South Korean national team have come to light following an incident between Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min during a table tennis game before their match against Jordan. The altercation led to Son Heung-min suffering a dislocated right medial collateral ligament, an injury confirmed by the Korea Football Association (KFA), sparking widespread concern.

Reports suggest that Lee Kang-in had been at odds with the team’s senior players for some time, with some advocating for his exclusion from the quarterfinals—calls which were dismissed by then-coach Klinsmann.

A YouTube video posted by Korean netizens, filming the events as witnessed live by football fans rather than through broadcasted footage, has raised eyebrows. The video shows Kim Min-jae ignoring Lee Kang-in’s proffered handshake after the quarterfinals, opting instead to thank other teammates such as Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan.

An additional contentious moment features Lee Kang-in during a crucial game against Australia, where he appeared eager to take a decisive penalty kick, even holding the ball. However, Hwang Hee-chan was assigned the task, leading to an exchange of words between him and Lee Kang-in, until Son Heung-min intervened, and Hwang Hee-chan went on to score, contributing to a thrilling 2-1 win for Korea.

Although the full dynamic of the team’s internal relations cannot be judged from the video alone, there’s increasing speculation about Lee Kang-in’s friction with the more experienced team members. There have even been reports of veterans stating they would refuse national team selections if Lee Kang-in continues to be included.

With the South Korean team set to face Thailand in the World Cup qualifiers on March 21 in Seoul, the potential inclusion of Lee Kang-in looms large. It remains to be seen whether the new national team coach will be able to address these issues and avert a potential standoff among players.

Source: daum

FAQ Section

• What was the incident between Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min? The incident occurred during a table tennis game before their match against Jordan, where a conflict led to Son Heung-min sustaining a dislocated right medial collateral ligament.
• Are there other instances of conflict involving Lee Kang-in with the national team? Yes. A video showed him being ignored by Kim Min-jae during a handshake, and another incident where Lee Kang-in was seen insisting on taking a penalty kick against Australia, which led to further conflict.
• What are the consequences if Lee Kang-in is selected for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers match? Some veteran players have reportedly suggested they would refuse to be called up to the national team if Lee Kang-in is summoned, indicating the seriousness of the internal discord.
• Has the Korea Football Association (KFA) responded to the situation? There’s no explicit statement on the specific conflicts, but the KFA did confirm the injury to Son Heung-min resulting from the incident with Lee Kang-in.
• Will the new coach be able to resolve these issues? There’s speculation on how the new coach will handle the internal team dynamics and whether he can bring unity back to the team in time for the World Cup qualifiers.

Conclusion

The tension and conflicts within the South Korean national team, particularly involving Lee Kang-in, have raised concerns about team unity and morale. With important matches on the horizon, the ability of the new coaching staff to effectively mediate these issues is crucial for the team’s success. It’s a sensitive situation that needs careful handling to prevent potential player boycotts and to foster a positive team atmosphere going forward.