Source: REUTERS/Edgar Su
[Saba Sports News] According to reports from Korean media, there have been allegations against Son Heung-Min’s father regarding the abuse of children during training. He and two coaches from the “SON Football Academy” are said to have insulted and physically disciplined players during a training session in Okinawa in March of this year. The incidents reportedly involved the use of a corner flag pole, which was used to hit players on the buttocks when they lost games or failed to meet training requirements. The Gangwon Province Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint from the parents of one of the victims on March 19, and subsequently handed the case over to the prosecutor’s office. The complaint stated that during training in Okinawa, Coach A from the SON Football Academy struck a student’s thigh with a corner flag pole, resulting in a two-week injury. The players claimed that, as a consequence of losing a game, Coach A instructed them to run from the goal to the middle line within a specified time frame of 20 seconds. Those who failed to meet the deadline, including victim C, allegedly received blows to the buttocks with a corner flag pole while sitting on the ground. Furthermore, it is reported that players residing in a shared dormitory were subjected to repeat hitting on the buttocks and calves by Coach B, as well as hair pulling and head hitting. These allegations have attracted significant attention in South Korea, given Son Heung-Min’s prominence as a football player.