The incident could have remained minor, a simple detail in the story.
Unfortunately, the surprise elimination of South Korea in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup the next day threw this altercation into the heart of the controversy.
On February 5, the two stars of the South Korean selection Kang-In Lee and Heung-min Son came to blows during a collective meal.
Since then, local media have reported this episode daily.
This Tuesday, the two men tried to clear up the matter via two almost simultaneous messages on their social networks.
“I behaved in a way that I shouldn't have at the dinner table that day, and even looking back on it now, I shouldn't have done it at all...,” the midfielder said. PSG Lee pitch on his Instagram account in a post on a black background I am deeply sorry for these things.
Respect and commitment to the team are the most important things, and I lacked that.
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A post shared by 이강인 KANG IN LEE🇰🇷 (@kanginleeoficial)
Blasted by South Korean fans and abandoned by advertisers, he explains that he went to London to apologize in person to his elder brother.
According to South Korean media, the incident broke out when the youngest players on the team, including Lee (23), a national superstar, decided to finish their meal as quickly as possible to go play table tennis.
The decision displeased Son and other older players, as meals on the eve of an important match are traditionally an opportunity to build team spirit.
Read alsoPSG: Kang-in Lee, unknown in France, superstar in his country
Still according to the media version - denied by the player's agents - the tension rose and Lee tried to punch Son.
Result: a dislocated finger for the second.
The next day, South Korea, one of the favorites of the tournament, created a surprise by being beaten by Jordan.
“Kang-in went through very difficult times after this incident”
On Instagram too, Son felt it was time to move on and posted a photo of him and Lee smiling and holding each other's shoulders.
“I am sincerely sorry for causing problems and will work even harder to grow the national team,” he wrote.
“Kang-in went through very difficult times after this incident,” added the star striker.
“Please forgive him.
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A post shared by Son HeungMin(손흥민)🇰🇷 (@hm_son7)
But he added: “If the same situation happened again, I would act in the same way, because it is one of the duties of the captain.”
Respect for elders takes precedence over everything else.
The message is clear in this communication operation.
Kang-In Lee therefore wanted to “take this opportunity to thank my seniors and my colleagues for having accepted my apology and for having adhered to it.
» To see if this affair will leave traces under the PSG jersey.
Returning to Paris one day after the elimination in the Asian Cup, the South Korean suffered for his resumption in Ligue 1 on Saturday in Nantes.