Korean players are taking a commemorative photo ahead of the match against Jordan

The Korean Football Association and coach Jürgen Klinsmann have delivered a mix of disappointment and despair to fans. On the 14th, football fans were shocked by the news that on the eve of the 2023 Asian Cup semifinal against Jordan, a dispute and physical altercation occurred between captain Son Heung-min and the older players, and Lee Kang-in along with the younger players.

According to the information available so far, the situation can be summarized as follows:

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Captain Son Heung-min, who believes that dining together is essential for team unity, was having a meal with the players. However, Lee Kang-in, Jeong Woo-yeong, and Seol Young-woo hurriedly finished their meals to play table tennis, which Son tried to stop. This led to rebellion and argument among the younger players, escalating into a physical altercation that resulted in Son Heung-min sustaining a broken middle finger.

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This account was initially reported by Simon Rice of The Sun, citing a source. Rice reported,  "Son asked them to come back and sit down when some disrespectful things were said to him. The row spilled into the dinning area within seconds, and players were being pulled apart. Son badly injured his finger trying to calm everyone down."

A Korean media outlet inquired about the veracity of the incident with the Korean Football Association, and an anonymous official stated that "Son Heung-min grabbed Lee Kang-in by the collar, and Lee swung a fist but did not hit Son."

There are discrepancies between The Sun's report and the statement from the association's official. Rice wrote that Son Heung-min was injured while trying to calm everyone down, while the association's official depicted it as if Son and Lee had a direct confrontation.

Lee Kang-in posted an apology message to fans on Instagram. ”It was reported that I had an altercation with Son ahead of the Asian Cup semi-final. ”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.

The narrative from The Sun appears more credible, given there are reports that the older players appealed to Klinsmann not to field Lee Kang-in the next day, indicating that Son had tried to mediate during the dispute and altercation. It's plausible that the older players made a disciplinary request to the coaching staff regarding Lee Kang-in.

However, there is still no concrete verification of who is right. If Rice's account is accurate, the Korean Football Association could face severe criticism for portraying the incident as if two superstars had a direct confrontation. If the association's account holds, then disciplinary action against Lee Kang-in might be justified.

Fans, however, have already perceived this news as a distraction, doubting its origin, but it is clear that the association has nothing to gain by framing two superstars as brawlers.

Adding to the disappointment, coach Jürgen Klinsmann has faced criticism for handling the situation. It appears factual that Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in had a dispute. Still, after being informed, Klinsmann took no extraordinary measures and proceeded with the next day's match despite the older players' request for disciplinary action against Lee Kang-in.

This led to a lackluster performance on the field, a situation marred by poor team spirit, for which the coach and his staff are primarily to blame. There should have been accountability, disciplinary actions, and apologies. Klinsmann's greatest strength, touted to be boosting team morale and unity, seemed absent in the Korean team.

Tactically and strategically deficient, the German coach is scheduled to be dismissed tomorrow, likely to be remembered as one of the worst coaches in fans' memories.

Reports suggest that since Klinsmann took charge, tension persisted between younger and older players, a situation the coaching staff couldn't have been unaware of. Their role was to foster strategy, tactics, training, and camaraderie, yet they seemingly failed to deliver despite their hefty salaries.

On a side note, Guus Hiddink was indeed a master among masters. Not only was Hiddink exceptional in his strategic and tactical planning, but he also excelled in fostering good relationships among the players. He understood Korean culture and encouraged mixing young and veteran players during meals and how they addressed each other on the field. For instance, the young Park Ji-sung was urged to call the veteran Hong Myung-bo simply "Myung-bo" instead of "Myung-bo hyung." In Korea, it is considered impolite for younger players to call older players by their first name without adding an honorific. Hiddink's approach broke traditional barriers, promoting unity and respect within the team in a novel way.

Guus Hiddink