- Carpenter bomb stuns Guardians as Tigers level series
- Harris, Trump and Biden mark Oct. 7 attacks as US election looms
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street falls
- US judge orders Google to open Android to rival app stores
- On attacks anniversary, Israel fights 'sacred' multi-front war
- Nobel scientist uncovered tiny genetic switches with big potential
- Grammy-winning Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney, dies at 91
- UN biodiversity summit in Colombia aims to turn words into action
- Georgia Supreme Court reinstates six-week abortion ban
- 'Dark day': Victims mourned around the globe on Oct. 7 anniversary
- On attacks anniversary, Israel fights multi-front war
- Mexican mayor murdered days after taking office
- Intensifying to Category 5, Hurricane Milton targets Florida
- Mission to probe smashed asteroid launches despite hurricane
- Biden, Harris mark Oct. 7 with call for Mideast peace
- Dupont set for Toulouse return after post-Olympic holiday
- French rugby bosses tighten discipline after nightmare Argentina tour
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street slips
- Visitors to get rare view of Rome's Trevi Fountain
- Europe's asteroid mission Hera launches despite hurricane
- Man City and Premier League both claim victory in legal case
- Deschamps delight as 'light back on' for Pogba after doping ban
- Biden, Harris urge Mideast peace on Oct. 7 anniversary
- Neeskens, tough midfielder in Cruyff's Ajax and Dutch teams
- UN warns world's water cycle becoming ever more erratic
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street retreats
- Ex-Dutch football star Johan Neeskens dies
- Man Utd battling to improve fortunes, says Evans
- What is microRNA? Nobel-winning discovery explained
- Masood, Abdullah centuries lift Pakistan to 328-4 in first England Test
- Hurricane Milton strengthens fast, threatens Mexico, Florida
- Tunisia's President Saied set for landslide election win
- Barca hoping to return to Camp Nou 'by end of year'
- Trump to open second golf course at Scotland resort in summer 2025
- Super-sub Jhon Duran rewarded with new Aston Villa deal
- US duo win Nobel for gene regulation breakthrough
- Masood hits first ton for four years to power Pakistan to 233-1
- Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round
- Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open with back injury
- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Artist Marina Abramovic hopes first China show offers tech respite
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- Pakistan 122-1 at lunch in first England Test
- Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- 'Second family': tennis stars hunt winning formula with new coaches
- Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation
- Mexico mayor murdered days after taking office
- Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
RBGPF | -1.97% | 58.94 | $ | |
JRI | -0.76% | 13.18 | $ | |
BCC | 1.68% | 141.27 | $ | |
RYCEF | -1.45% | 6.88 | $ | |
NGG | -1.56% | 65.48 | $ | |
SCS | -0.15% | 12.95 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.53% | 24.57 | $ | |
RELX | -0.54% | 46.04 | $ | |
RIO | -0.11% | 69.62 | $ | |
GSK | -0.49% | 38.63 | $ | |
BCE | -0.54% | 33.53 | $ | |
BTI | -0.26% | 35.2 | $ | |
AZN | -0.78% | 76.87 | $ | |
VOD | 0.31% | 9.69 | $ | |
BP | 0.78% | 33.14 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.09% | 24.79 | $ |
Spurs star Son's dad accused of verbally abusing young players
Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min's father has been accused of verbally abusing a young player at his football academy in South Korea, according to a police interview transcript given to AFP by a lawyer on Monday.
Former footballer Son Woong-jung is a public figure in South Korea and authored a best-selling memoir detailing how he helped his son become one of the best strikers in the English Premier League.
But the family of a 12-year-old, identified only as Kim, told police he was the target of foul language just weeks after his enrolment at Son senior's academy in November.
"I was called out by coach Son for making a mistake during a passing practice," Kim alleged in the interview.
The coach then continued with a tirade of foul and abusive language and called the boy various offensive names on multiple different occasions, Kim told police investigating the academy.
The boy was also allegedly hit with a corner flag by Son Heung-yun, the brother of the Tottenham striker, leaving a large bruise on his left thigh.
Son Heung-yun previously said that he and Son Heung-min were "hit by our father a lot when training, which is unimaginable these days".
"Some of our neighbours even doubted he was our real father," he told AFP in a 2019 interview.
Son senior has described his actions at the academy as tough love designed to avoid his young charges becoming "failed athletes".
He claims to have tried to resolve the issue with the family amicably, but said they demanded an excessive settlement payment.
Ryu Jae-yool, the lawyer representing Kim, told AFP the case reflects a "culmination of years-long child abuse in disguise of a training method".
Son senior and his coaches are currently being investigated, and could face fines or, if deemed serious enough, the case will go to court, Ryu said.
"I expect Son to be indicted and tried at court," Ryu said, adding that this would "contribute to ridding the country of physical and verbal abuse against youth".
Separately, Kim's family have also reported Son senior to the state-run Korea Sport Ethics Centre for an investigation.
As part of the probe, authorities will question young players to determine if they have experienced verbal or physical abuse and will refer the case to law enforcement if wrongdoing is found.
M.A.Colin--AMWN