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Heung-min Son: South Korea player apologises for fight which left Tottenham captain with dislocated finger

Heung-min Son: South Korea player apologises for fight which left Tottenham captain with dislocated finger

Tottenham’s Heung-min Son dislocated his finger after a bust-up with a team-mate over table tennis while he was on South Korea duty at the Asian Cup.

South Korea and Spurs captain Son was involved in an altercation with Kang-in Lee before their surprise 2-0 semi-final defeat by Jordan last week.

Son took issue with some younger members of the squad playing table tennis at dinner time and was hurt during an ensuing clash. The index and middle fingers on his right hand were strapped when he returned in Saturday's 2-1 win over Brighton, setting up Brennan Johnson's 96th-minute winner.

Son had two fingers on his right hand strapped up for the semi-final. (REUTERS)
Son had two fingers on his right hand strapped up for the semi-final. (REUTERS)

A Korean FA official told the Yonhap News Agency: "It happened when some young players went up to play table tennis, and Heung-min Son and other older players took issue with it. The players exchanged a few words and Son hurt his finger in the process."

According to the Yonhap News Agency, some of the squad were playing table tennis when Son and other players arrived for a late dinner.

It is claimed Son asked them to keep the noise down, but they did not listen and he then grabbed 22-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee by the collar.

The Yonhap News Agency claims Lee threw a punch and, while it did not connect, Son dislocated his finger when the pair had to be separated by team-mates.

Lee this morning posted an apology on Instagram.

"It was reported that I had an altercation with Son ahead of the Asian Cup semi-final," he wrote.

"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. 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."

The incident was part of a disappointing Asian Cup for South Korea, which has left head coach Jurgen Klinsmann fighting for his job. The KFA have scheduled a meeting on Thursday to discuss Klinsmann's future.