da doce： Son Heung-min dislocated his finger in a row with Lee Kang-In over ping pong on the eve of South Korea's Asian Cup exit.
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Son left with injury in rowSouth Korea lost 2-0 to JordanHas since returned to TottenhamWHAT HAPPENED?
South Korea were shockingly eliminated from the Asian Cup at the semi-finals by underdogs Jordan, and reports have now revealed exactly what happened the night before. Son is said to have taken issue with young players within the squad rushing their dinner so they could play ping pong, leaving the captain infuriated. Son is said to have grabbed Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in, who then retaliated by attempting to punch the Spurs star, before the pair were pulled apart. In the clash, Son dislocated his finger.
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Per Yonhap, via the Daily Mail, a Korean Football Association spokesperson said: "It happened when some young players went up to play table tennis, and Son Heung-min and other older players took issue with it.
"The players exchanged a few words and Son hurt his finger in the process."
Lee has since apologised, issuing the following statement: "Good afternoon. This is Lee Kang-In. There is an article that I had a dispute with Son Heung-min before the 4th quarter of the Asian Cup.
"We are very disappointed for football fans who always support our national team. I am so sorry. I should have been in the forefront and obeyed my brothers, but I'm only sorry that I'm showing a bad side to football fans.
"I apologise to many of you who have disappointed me. I am well aware of the interest and expectations football fans send me. From now on, I will try to help my older brothers to become a better player and a better person."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Son played in the defeat to Jordan with strapping on his hand, and it is perhaps a surprise that Lee played the full 90 minutes, too, although the pair were unable to reconcile on the pitch. Both men have since returned to their respective clubs, with Son coming off the bench in Spurs' 2-1 win over Brighton. Lee, by comparison, was not in PSG's squad for their game against LOSC.
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
The fallout is likely to continue, with Jurgen Klinsmann under increasing pressure as manager. It remains to be seen if the FA will decide to make a change, but South Korea's exit was undoubtedly a huge shock.