“Lee Kang-in’s national team qualification will be permanently revoked”… In the aftermath of internal strife, angry complaints emerge

A civil complaint was filed with the Korea Sports Council requesting that Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who had a conflict with national soccer team captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), be stripped of his national team membership.

According to the Korea Sports Council on the 15th, a civil complaint was registered at the Kookmin Shinmun High School on this day, requesting disciplinary action against Lee Kang-in, Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, and coach Jurgen Klinsmann in relation to the internal strife within the soccer team.

Civilian A, based on Article 24, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of the Sports Fair Committee Regulations and Article 14, Paragraph 1, Item 6 of the Football Association Fair Committee Regulations, “Lee Kang-in’s permanent disqualification from the national team, resignation of Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, and Coach Klinsmann’s resignation.” “I hope that the reputation of the Korean soccer community, which has collapsed through his dismissal, will be restored,” he demanded.

The Sports Fair Committee regulations and the Football Association Fair Committee regulations state that disciplinary action can be taken for misconduct such as disrupting the order of the stadium or dereliction of duty that occurred during the competition when the dignity of an athlete was seriously damaged.

Mr. A then said, “Coach Klinsmann failed to establish internal discipline properly, so the dignity of the team’s senior players was not properly established, and as a result, Lee Kang-in’s downfall occurred,” adding, “The unprecedented situation was revealed to the world in real time. “At the center of this, the Football Association’s quick recognition, which seemed to be trying to change the direction of public opinion, also played a role,” he argued.

Meanwhile, British media The Sun reported on the 14th (Korean time), “Son Heung-min suffered a dislocated finger after getting into a fight with some players the day before the semifinal match against Jordan in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup.”

According to this, Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in had a conflict one day before the semifinal against Jordan on the 6th.

Some players, including Lee Kang-in, left early saying they wanted to play table tennis after dinner, but Son Heung-min was displeased and spoke bitterly, which led to a physical fight, which resulted in an injury.

The day after the report, the Football Association acknowledged that the rumors of a conflict between Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in were true.

Furthermore, it was revealed that some senior players requested then-Coach Klinsmann to exclude Lee Kang-in from the list.

Lee Kang-in wrote an apology on his social networking service (SNS) regarding the controversy.

He said, “It was reported in an article that I had an argument with Son Heung-min ahead of the semifinals of the last Asian Cup,” and added, “I have caused great disappointment to the soccer fans who have always supported our national team. I’m really sorry. I should have followed my brothers’ instructions, but I’m just sorry for showing a bad side of myself. “I apologize to those who were disappointed in me,” he said.

Baek Jin-ho, online news reporter [email protected]

[ⓒ 세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]