Son Woong-jung, father of Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min and a former footballer himself, has been accused of verbally abusing a young player at his football academy in South Korea. This accusation, backed by a police interview transcript, has been made public by a lawyer on Monday.
Son Woong-jung is a prominent figure in South Korea, known not only for his football career but also for his best-selling memoir that details his rigorous training regimen which he credits for helping his son become one of the top strikers in the English Premier League.
However, recent allegations suggest a darker side to his coaching methods. The family of a 12-year-old boy, identified only as Kim, has come forward, claiming that Kim was subjected to verbal abuse just weeks after enrolling in Son senior’s academy in November. According to Kim’s account in the police interview, he was reprimanded by coach Son for a mistake made during a passing practice session. Kim alleges that this reprimand escalated into a tirade of foul and abusive language, with Son calling him various offensive names on multiple occasions.
The situation reportedly deteriorated further when Kim was allegedly struck with a corner flag by Son Heung-yun, the brother of Son Heung-min, leaving a large bruise on his left thigh. Son Heung-yun has previously spoken about the harsh training methods they endured under their father, admitting that both he and Son Heung-min were “hit by our father a lot when training, which is unimaginable these days.” This rigorous training has been justified by Son senior as a form of tough love, aimed at preventing young athletes from becoming “failed athletes.”
Son Woong-jung has acknowledged the incident but claims he attempted to resolve the matter amicably with Kim’s family. He alleges that the family demanded an excessive settlement, which led to the ongoing legal proceedings. Ryu Jae-yool, the lawyer representing Kim, argues that this case is a “culmination of years-long child abuse in disguise of a training method.” Ryu believes that Son senior and his coaches, currently under investigation, could face fines or potentially a court trial if the accusations are deemed severe enough.
Ryu expressed his expectations, stating, “I expect Son to be indicted and tried at court,” and emphasized that such a trial could contribute to eliminating physical and verbal abuse against youth in the country. In addition to the police investigation, Kim’s family has also reported Son senior to the state-run Korea Sport Ethics Centre. This investigation aims to determine if other young players have experienced similar verbal or physical abuse, with the authorities planning to refer the case to law enforcement if any wrongdoing is found.
This situation raises significant concerns about the coaching methods employed by Son Woong-jung and the broader implications for youth training in South Korea. The football community, both in South Korea and internationally, is watching closely as the investigations proceed. The outcome could have far-reaching effects on the standards of coaching and the protection of young athletes in the country.
As this story develops, it serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between rigorous training and abuse. The football world will be keenly observing how the South Korean authorities handle this case and what measures will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of young athletes in the future.
