06/16/26 02:08:00
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06/16 14:06 CDT Leaked remarks about South Korea star Son Heung-min spark
backlash at World Cup camp
Leaked remarks about South Korea star Son Heung-min spark backlash at World Cup
camp
By TALES AZZONI and JOHN DUERDEN
Associated Press
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) --- South Korea's preparations for Thursday's World
Cup match against Mexico have been overshadowed by a rift between the players
and the country's media following disparaging comments about captain Son
Heung-min.
The spat reportedly led to the resignation of one of the team's media officers
on Tuesday. The national team has yet to confirm the resignation, which has
been reported by some of the media covering the South Korean squad in
Guadalajara.
Access for the media had apparently been cut off after the comments against Son
were caught on camera. Players reportedly refrained from speaking to South
Korean media outside official World Cup commitments, and scheduled interviews
with players were canceled.
Mexican media said there was a meeting between the team's media officers and
the South Korean media to discuss the incident.
There was no media access scheduled on Tuesday. The pre-match news conference
is scheduled for Wednesday.
The South Korean soccer association said it regretted "the inappropriate
remarks made by some media personnel during the national football team's
training at the Guadalajara base camp." The organization added the comments
caused "great shock and disappointment" within the squad.
The incident occurred during an open training session on June 7, days before
South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in its first World Cup match.
The 33-year-old Son, running with teammates, was mocked by unidentified media
personnel over his military record in footage recorded by broadcaster JTBC,
South Korea's official rights holder for the tournament. The video was later
leaked, prompting a strong reaction on social media.
By helping South Korea win gold at the 2018 Asian Games, Son earned an
exemption from the mandatory 21-month military service required of able-bodied
men.
Son later completed alternative duties, including a three-week military
training course in 2020 and community service.
The federation said in Monday's statement that it "will continue to prioritize
the protection of the squad and strive to create a healthy media environment."
Son, who left Tottenham for Los Angeles FC a year ago, missed chances in the
victory over the Czech Republic, with Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring in
Guadalajara.
South Korea plays again in Guadalajara on Thursday when it faces Mexico in
Group A.
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Duerden reported from London.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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