Son Woong-jung, the father of Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, alongside his son Son Heung-yun, have been fined about €2000 by a South Korean court for abusing kids at a football academy.
Their Punishments?
Another coach was also slammed with a fine alongside the aforementioned individuals for maltreating young players at Son Woong-jung’s football youth academy in South Korea.
The three coaches who have been punished, are also required to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs.
Damning Claims Over The Actions Of Heung-min Son’s Father And His Cohorts
Reports indicate that the parents of one player have claimed that their son sustained thigh injuries which required two weeks of treatment after Son Heung-yun hit him with a corner flag during a training camp in Japan.
Son Woong-jung was also charged with using profane language at young players for making mistakes in training sessions.
Heung-min Son’s Father Apologize For His Actions
The father of Heung-min Son, Woong-Jung, has apologized and promised to evaluate his coaching methods but has denied many of the allegations leveled against him and his staff, sharing that he acted out of love for the players at the academy.
The trio who have been handed punishments were also given 7 days to launch an appeal against the verdict by the Chuncheon District Court.
Fascinatingly, the decision followed the indictment of the three by prosecutors on August 30, 2024, who requested that the court impose fines.
According to Goal, the academy opened in 2021, with South Korean international and Tottenham Hotspur forward Heung-min Son reportedly funding much of the €15m project.
Who Is Son Woong-jung, The Father Of Heung-min Son?
Son Woong-jung, 62, is a South Korean former footballer who played as a forward and he is the father of current South Korea national team captain and Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min.
Woong-jung was born on June 10, 1962, in Seosan, South Korea, and he played for teams like Sangmu FC, Hyundai Horang-i, and Ilhwa Chunma.
Son Woong-jung is married to Eun Ja Kil, and he is also the father of Heung-yun Son, who was among the coaches fined for abusing kids.
Heung-min Son
The South Korean is currently unavailable for action due to a hamstring problem, and he will hope to be back in action when Tottenham Hotspur trade tackles with West Ham United on October 19, 2024.
His injury issues have resulted in him being excluded from international engagements with South Korea in October 2024, as he was ruled out from their World Cup qualification game against Jordan on October 10, 2024.
Heung-min Son will also be absent from the Asian nation’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification clash with Iraq on October 15, 2024.
The 32-year-old, who is considered to be one of the best wingers in the world and one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time is known for his speed, finishing, two-footedness, and ability to link play.
Clubs He Has Played For In His Career
Son has had an impressive career, playing for several clubs, including Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Heung-min Son Career Stats
Heung-min Son has made 580 club appearances thus far in his career, scoring 213 goals and providing 100 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, the forward has made 129 appearances for South Korea, scoring 49 goals and providing 22 assists.