Tottenham’s Son Heung-min’s father has been fined and ordered to undergo an educational programme following allegations of abuse at his football academy in South Korea. Son Woong-jung, father of Tottenham Hotspur’s captain Son Heung-min, was fined three million won (approximately £1,700) by the Chuncheon district court. The court also mandated 40 hours of education for Son Woong-jung, his other son Son Heung-yun, and a third coach who remains unnamed in the case.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Son Woong-jung stated in court that his actions were always motivated by love for the children. The accusations of abuse included physical and verbal mistreatment of young footballers at the academy. The academy, which was established in 2021 with support from Son Heung-min, came under scrutiny following allegations of misconduct.
During the trial, Son Woong-jung apologised for the incidents and committed to reassessing the coaching methods at the academy. The charges against the three coaches, including throwing abusive language at players and an incident where a player was reportedly hit by a corner flag during training in Japan, led to the court’s decision. The young player involved in the flag incident required medical treatment for two weeks as a result.
Son Heung-min, currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained during a Europa League match, was not implicated in the abuse allegations. The coaches have the option to appeal their sentences within seven days. Stay updated – sign up to receive our newsletter for all the latest news in Scotland and beyond.