“Record-breaking” humiliation of Korean soccer on the international stage: “Son Heung-min ostracism rumors, association police investigation, 96 faction… an endless descent” — major British paper conducts in-depth analysis

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The situation has drawn such intense attention that even major overseas media outlets are focusing on it. The desperate current state of Korean soccer, marked by factional conflicts within the locker room, rumors that captain Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) is being ostracized, and compounded by a police raid and a leadership vacuum, has been exposed to the world.

The British major media outlet “The Guardian” reported on the 30th (Korean time), stating, “Team discord, a police raid, and Son Heung-min’s uncertain future have pushed Korean soccer to a critical crossroads.” It added, “Following the miserable World Cup disaster, Korean soccer is falling into an endless abyss. Conflicts between veteran and rookie players have reached their peak, shaking even the captain’s standing.”

“The Guardian” compared Son Heung-min with Cristiano Ronaldo to highlight the severity of the situation. The outlet pointed out, “While both players share the commonalities of being symbols of jersey number 7, Premier League legends, and holders of international match records, they now also share the astonishing commonality of being at risk of becoming ‘divisive figures’ within their national teams.”

The point that drew the most attention from foreign media was the “captain bypassing” incident officially exposed during a National Assembly hearing. The paper detailed an episode from the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee state audit on the 21st, where People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook criticized the team by asking, “Do you know that players do not call each other by name but refer to one another as ‘Number 7’ or ‘that person’?” to which Lee Yong-su, acting president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), replied, “Are you referring to player Son Heung-min?” The outlet explained, “In this inquiry, which has escalated beyond sports into a national issue, it was officially confirmed that national team leadership had caused discord and completely collapsed.”

Behind the rapid decline of Son Heung-min, who just 18 months ago lifted the Europa League trophy as captain of Tottenham Hotspur, marking the peak of his 10-year stint in England, lay deep factional conflicts within the national team. “The Guardian” analyzed that the current situation is far more serious than the clash with Lee Kang-in during the 2024 Asian Cup.

The core of the current conflict analyzed by “The Guardian” is the so-called “96 LINE.” The outlet stated, “Veteran players born in 1996 who have grown into key figures, such as Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (FC Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), harbor strong dissatisfaction with Son Heung-min’s leadership.” It added, “They have been demanding a complete overhaul to a new captaincy and a new coaching system since the World Cup.” Indeed, after the 0-0 draw against Venezuela on October 2, Hwang In-beom confessed, “It has been nine years since I joined the national team, but despite much needing to change, nothing has changed.” Kim Min-jae openly expressed internal discontent, saying, “Everyone should sacrifice and fight, but they did not. The defenders are pitiful.” It was also reported that these three players had attempted to announce their simultaneous retirements immediately after the October international matches, only for the plan to be scrapped due to the association’s persuasion, though the Football Association could not deny the reports.

“The Guardian” further diagnosed, “While every team has conflicts between veterans and rookies, given the reality in Korean culture that strict hierarchy and age-based honorifics are emphasized, where one must be respectful even to a senior who is only one year older, this incident represents an extremely abnormal and serious rift.” The outlet invoked the past case of Coach Guus Hiddink in 2001, who ordered the integration of dining tables to break down hierarchical barriers, emphasizing that discipline has collapsed to rock bottom.

The administrative reality surrounding the national team is also dire. Following elimination from the group stage of the 2026 North-Central America World Cup and the press conference boycott scandal, Coach Hong Myung-bo and President Chung Mong-gyu resigned and were summoned to a National Assembly hearing. The situation eventually escalated to the point where police raided the Football Association’s office. With the team limping along under interim coach Roberto Moreno until November, and the association presidency left vacant, it continues to drift even with the Asian Cup, which has not been won for decades, looming on the horizon.

The outlet also faced the reality that Son Heung-min, who is turning 34, can no longer maintain the explosive form of the past. Although he scored his 59th international goal via a free kick against Uzbekistan, writing new history in Korean soccer, analysts suggest it is time to discuss not just tactical utilization within the national team, but whether he should even be selected for starting lineups. “The Guardian” warned that while there are suggestions the Asian Cup could be postponed to 2028 due to missile strikes on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, “this could be an opportunity to mend a fractured team, but conversely, it could also push an already festering crisis to its worst,” warning that Korean soccer is trapped in a desperate dark age.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original