Son Heung-min Mockery Sparks Dispute Among South Korean World Cup Squad Members

South Korean Football Team’s Media Access Restricted After Rift with National Press

The South Korean national football team has restricted media access outside of official World Cup commitments following a rift with the country’s press over disparaging comments about captain Son Heung-min. The incident occurred during an open training session on June 7, when unidentified media personnel mocked Son’s military record in footage recorded by broadcaster JTBC.

The South Korean Football Association (KFA) has confirmed that “inappropriate remarks” were made by some media personnel, causing “great shock and disappointment” within the squad. The KFA has stated that it will continue to prioritize the protection of the team and strive to create a healthy media environment.

As a result, players have reportedly refrained from speaking to South Korean media outside official World Cup commitments, and scheduled interviews with players were cancelled. A meeting between the team’s media officers and the South Korean media was held on Tuesday to discuss the incident.

The rift has also led to the resignation of one of the team’s media officers, although this has not been officially confirmed by the KFA. The pre-match news conference is scheduled for Wednesday, and the team will face Mexico in its next World Cup match on Thursday.

Son Heung-min, who left Tottenham for Los Angeles FC a year ago, missed chances in South Korea’s victory over the Czech Republic earlier in the tournament. The incident has sparked a strong reaction on social media, with many calling for greater respect for players’ personal lives and military service records.

Source: Al Jazeera