Sports
Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and the row that dislocated a finger and rocked South Korea's Asian Cup
The physical altercation that left Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea captain Son Heung-min with a dislocated finger had been a good few weeks in the making.
The South Korea camp for the Asian Cup played in Qatar over the past month or so had been far from harmonious, with splits everywhere you looked. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann divided opinion, and he himself is said to have thought there was a lack of team spirit in the group, with something of a split between its big-name players such as Son, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, and the less-experienced ones.
Son, the 31-year-old captain, is understood to have felt that some of the younger players weren’t taking the tournament — the Asian federation’s four-yearly equivalent of the Euros or Copa America, and a competition South Korea hadn’t won for 64 years — seriously enough, while those like the 22-year-old Lee rejected this suggestion.
A source close to one of the players told The Athletic last week that the group failed to produce a single performance across their six matches, three in the group and three knockout-phase ties, that was 100 per cent collective.
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It all came to a head last Monday, the night before their 2-0 semi-final defeat to Jordan, when a few of the younger players, including Lee, wanted to leave the team dinner early to play table tennis.
Son objected to this and forcefully made his point, which drew a similarly forthright response from Lee. An altercation followed involving a number of players, during which Son dislocated a finger as he tried to break things up. It’s also been claimed that Lee was pushed in the chest, and reacted angrily.
Son playing against Jordan with his fingers strapped after the incident the night before (Simon Holmes/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the South Korea FA (KFA) confirmed the altercation had occurred, telling the Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday that: “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.”
The Athletic has contacted the KFA for further comment.
What happened next is disputed. It’s been suggested that some of the squad said to Klinsmann that Lee should be dropped for the semi-final. Others have denied this happened, and Son, for instance, is said to like Lee and have no issue with him. One view is that it was more about maintaining general standards and behaviours.
Either way, there is clearly a huge amount of ill-feeling among those involved for South Korea in the Asian Cup. And these revelations raise several questions.
The first is why the usually reserved KFA were so quick to confirm the story. It’s being suggested in the country that they did so to divert attention from the hugely unpopular Klinsmann, who most supporters want fired after a pretty dismal Asian Cup campaign. They reached the semis but scraped their way there — drawing two of their three group matches then winning one knockout tie on penalties and another after extra time, both having scored stoppage-time equalisers — and were never convincing.
Klinsmann faced some difficult questions on his return to Korea (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)
“Do you plan on resigning?,” was the first question asked to Klinsmann in his post-tournament press conference, held in Incheon Airport in Seoul immediately after the squad arrived home, where a baying public had gathered.
Others believe that the story has been leaked by those who want the 59-year-old former Germany, Bayern and United States manager sacked as a way of showing how out of control things have become on his watch.
Klinsmann, appointed just under a year ago, is thought to have been surprised by the lack of harmony and team spirit in the group. He felt those dramatic victories against Saudi Arabia and Australia might galvanise the players as they progressed through the knockout rounds but instead, after the shock defeat to Jordan in the semis, he went public to say that their opponents had more desire than his players, adding: “They wanted it more.”
There is a lot of pressure not just on Klinsmann but also on the man who hired him: KFA president Chung Mong-gyu. Chung went into the search that ended with the former Germany, Tottenham, Bayern and Inter Milan striker getting the job wanting a big-name manager who would boost the country’s global profile, and is said to be determined to see this project through. The two men have met twice since the Jordan defeat and both appear keen to carry on, despite the public hostility. “Nice question!,” Klinsmann laughed when asked if he would be resigning.
Meanwhile, The Athletic reported on Sunday that, during a pre-Asian Cup camp in Abu Dhabi, Klinsmann held very intense training sessions. A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, said the players had been “run ragged” and that “he absolutely battered them, they were exhausted”.
That was the context for last Monday’s physical altercation, with tensions further raised by the fact that this squad is seen as South Korea’s golden generation of players, including stars from PSG, Bayern and Spurs, plus Wolves’ in-form Hwang.
Lee (18) and Son (7) during South Korea’s Asian Cup group match against Malaysia (Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
The sense that South Korea were wasting their best chance in years for a first Asian Cup since 1960 permeated the mood last Monday, the night before their Jordan defeat.
And, according to insiders, there have been stories of internal issues for some time now inside the national team. On the night in question, while the age-based hierarchy of Korean society is not as strict as it once was, it is still the tradition that it is seen as bad manners for the younger players to get up to leave before the older ones have finished their meals.
Lee said he would be more respectful to the senior players in future in a message posted on his Instagram story on Wednesday: “There was an article about me having a verbal argument with Son ahead of the Asian Cup semi-final.
“I am very sorry to disappoint football fans who are always supporting the South Korea international team.
“I had to follow senior (older) players in the team, but I am sorry that I showed not nice behavior to football fans.
“I apologise to all fans who were disappointed in me.
“I will try to be a better player and person helping senior and older players from now on.”
The majority of South Korean fans are siding with Son and the more experienced players, and Lee is coming in for a lot of criticism for acting this way towards the team’s captain, nine years his senior. There’s also the view that this is more about general dysfunction within the national team set-up than it is about individuals.
It’s too soon to know how it will affect the players’ reputations in the long term, or their desire to carry on playing for their country. Klinsmann said on Sunday that Son would “definitely” keep playing for Korea.
Klinsmann himself is due to hold a meeting with the KFA on Thursday as the fallout from the Asian Cup exit continues. Reports in South Korea suggest that governing body members will push for his resignation during the meeting. The German, whose contract runs for another two-and-a-half years until the 2026 World Cup, will attend virtually as he is now back at home in the US.
South Korea are back in action in just over a month, in a home World Cup qualifier on March 21 against Thailand, where there will presumably need to be the mother of all reconciliation jobs.
GO DEEPER
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Additional reporting: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Mario Cortegana, Tim Spiers
(Top photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Sports
Jordan Staal’s two-goal night lifts Hurricanes past Golden Knights, evening Stanley Cup Final series
Tyler Reddick Makes History! Inside His 3-Peat and Historic Start to the Season
Fresh off his victory at Circuit of the Americas, Tyler Reddick joins Kevin Harvick on this week’s Victory Lap to break down his historic third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win to open the 2026 season. Reddick discusses how he and 23XI Racing have built early-season momentum, what has clicked across the organization, and how the team has elevated its performance to championship level. He details his intense battle with road course standout Shane van Gisbergen at COTA, the strategy and execution that helped him secure the win, and what it means to become the first Cup driver to win the first three races of a season. Reddick also reflects on his viral 3-peat photo tribute to team owner Michael Jordan, the confidence inside the garage, and how this dominant start shapes expectations for the rest of the year.
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The Carolina Hurricanes have evened up the Stanley Cup Final once more thanks to Jordan Staal’s two-goal night in Las Vegas to beat the Golden Knights in Game 4, 5-3.
The series now sits at 2-2 with Game 5 slated for a return back to Carolina’s Lenovo Center on Thursday to see who will have the edge in this pivotal clash on ice.
This game didn’t need overtime like the previous two, but it did need someone to break the 3-3 tie that went into the third period between these opponents.
Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his power play goal with teammates against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 9, 2026. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
With 13:39 left in Game 4, Shea Theodore made a disastrous turnover in the Golden Knights’ own zone, and Hurricanes star Seth Jarvis picked it off right in front of the net.
Luckily for Vegas, Carter Harter stopped Jarvis’ backhand, but the threat wasn’t averted just yet. Jarvis battled to get the puck back out in front, and it ended up trickling to the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers, who tried flipping it to Staal.
SETH JARVIS SCORES OVERTIME GAME-WINNER AS HURRICANES STORM BACK FROM 2-0 DEFICIT TO EVEN STANLEY CUP FINAL
Staal lost his edge on his skate, but that didn’t stop him from swatting a back-handed shot of his own toward the net. It just trickled past Hart, and Staal celebrated while still down on the ice. He became the first player in 44 years to score a goal in each of the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final.
With the way these games have been going, though, a one-goal lead was not safe. This time, however, the Hurricanes had the defense and timely saves by Brandon Bussi, who head coach Rod Brind’Amour went with over Frederik Anderson, and the decision paid off.
The Golden Knights took 20 shots on goal, with Bussi saving 7 in his first time on ice for Carolina in this series. And Ehlers sealed victory when he cleverly banked the puck out of his own zone with an empty net on the other end that walked into the net for the 5-3 win.
Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a first-period goal against Carter Hart of the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 9, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Hurricanes came out roaring in the first period in this one as well, scoring three goals to the Golden Knights’ one by captain Mark Stone. Logan Stankoven notched his 11th of these playoffs just 1:06 into the game. Jackson Blake quickly followed on a goal assisted by Taylor Hall and Ehlers.
Then, Staal’s first goal of the game came 12:48 into the period on a power play. Shayne Gostisbehere ripped a shot on goal, and after Hart made the save, Staal was first to find the puck and a clear shot right in front of the goal.
With a 3-1 lead after the first 20 minutes, the Hurricanes had to feel good. But again, no lead is safe, and Vegas reminded them of that in the second period.
Logan Stankoven of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a first-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 9, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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William Karlsson got Vegas closer with his third goal of the playoffs, while Brett Howden, adding to his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy, scored his 14th to tie it all up at three.
In the end, Staal’s heroics for the Hurricanes is why he has a “C” on his sweater.
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The first serious legal challenge to the House settlement will come courtesy of a USC freshman linebacker.
Talanoa Ili, a top-100 recruit in the Trojans’ vaunted 2026 class, joins Stanford quarterback Charlie Mirer as one of two lead plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit that takes aim at the system implemented since the settlement ushered in a new era of direct payment from universities to athletes. The suit, which was filed Tuesday, accuses the NCAA, the Power Four conferences and the enforcement arm they created — the College Sports Commission — of participating in a “conspiracy” by creating a system of policies that have “direct anti-competitive effects, including the suppression of [name, image and likeness] compensation below competitive levels.”
Those policies, their attorneys argue, violate state laws in California that prohibit restrictions on NIL rights, as well as federal antitrust statutes. They’re seeking monetary damages, as well as an injunction that would upend the enforcement structure created to determine whether individual NIL deals over $2,500 meet criteria, including whether they have “a valid business purpose” or fall within a reasonable range of market value.
The clearinghouse, NIL Go, was created with the hope of eliminating an influx of booster-funded NIL deals that were basically direct payments from donors to the program. But since its inception, the system has been more restrictive and worked less efficiently than some schools and athletes might have hoped. As of last month, according to Yahoo Sports, more than $125 million worth of NIL compensation that had been promised to athletes had been rejected by the clearinghouse or was still under review.
In Ili’s case, the complaint states that he received a “substantial multi-year offer” from USC’s House of Victory collective in 2024 that led him to commit to the Trojans, only to have the offer disappear after approval of the House settlement.
“Absent the NIL Restrictions on Direct Pay NIL Compensation, Ili would have received more for his NIL rights than he now receives,” the complaint states. “The Agreement has thus injured Ili.”
Mirer, meanwhile, claims that he has received no NIL compensation from Stanford’s collective or revenue-sharing money from the university since 2024 as a result of the settlement.
Stanford quarterback Charlie Mirer during a game last season.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)
“The [CSC agreement] has suppressed, deterred, and effectively terminated the economic relationships that had produced his prior NIL compensation,” the lawsuit says.
Even the plaintiffs in the House settlement, which created the CSC, are in the process of challenging the current system. On Wednesday, plaintiff attorney Jeffrey Kessler will argue in a hearing that school-affiliated businesses such as multimedia rights holders or corporate sponsors, should not be subject to the CSC’s rigorous criteria for NIL deals. That decision could also open the floodgates, with schools using those entities to circumvent the cap.
Two U.S. senators are hoping to pass legislation they believe would bring more stability to college athletics and thwart legal challenges. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Texas) spoke with presidents and chancellors from the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday about a bipartisan bill, the Protect College Sports Act, which would codify some of the CSC’s policies into federal law.
Sports
Rob Gronkowski is ‘Team USA all the way’ despite being a soccer novice ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
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It’s officially World Cup week around the globe, and for the U.S. men’s national team, it’s the quest to make a run on home soil.
While soccer isn’t remotely close to the national sport, the feeling of patriotism and support for the USMNT is expected in full force when kickoff comes on June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California.
Just ask legendary NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, who may still be learning the game he never played growing up, but is “Team USA all the way” as they gear up for the tournament.
Rob Gronkowski attends WrestleMania 42 Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 19, 2026. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
“No doubt about it. I’m Team USA all the way. How can you not be?” he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “I mean, I think it’ll be the greatest thing for the sport of soccer if somehow a miracle Team USA wins the World Cup.”
Gronkowski understands it’s a long shot for the USMNT to capture its first World Cup title. But his understanding of the sport mirrors that of many Americans, who love their country and want to see the Stars and Stripes make a run.
USMNT CAPTAIN TYLER ADAMS READY TO BE IN ‘PATRIOTIC MOOD’ PLAYING ON HOME SOIL FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
Working alongside fellow NFL fan-favorite, New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, Gronkowski has been building his soccer acumen and getting ready for the World Cup on Tubi’s “The Other Football.”
“I think it’s great for America to learn the game of soccer,” Gronkowski said about the show. “We got referees come on, we have players that come on. They’re teaching us the game of football and we’re asking questions because America’s a country that’s slacking behind in the game of soccer. There’s no doubt about that, and it’s great for the game of soccer that the World Cup is here because I feel like the whole entire world knows about soccer, knows the rules inside out and knows all the players. A good percentage of the USA is learning about the game of soccer. The game of soccer is expanding.
“I’m learning so much about it and I’m loving it.”
The U.S. Men’s National Team poses during the announcement of the 2026 World Cup roster in New York on May 26, 2026. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP)
Gronkowski and his brothers were multi-sport athletes growing up, but soccer didn’t fall into that regimen in West New York. That doesn’t mean Gronkowski didn’t share tremendous respect for what these elite athletes do on the pitch and will showcase for the next month.
“The cardio, the shape they’re in is absolutely incredible,” he explained. “I just never played growing up. I don’t think I would last that long. I’m a short sprit guy – 40 yards. Then, I need a little break. If I had to go that long, I don’t think I would’ve lasted on a soccer field. I truly love their athleticism. I wish I played a little bit because my footwork for the game of football and basketball would’ve been more phenomenal and more on point as well. They’re just complete athletes and I respect what they do. I’m learning more and more about the game, and that’s what’s great about the World Cup being here.”
Not only are Gronkowski and Winston learning about the rules, but also the expanded FIFA format that will debut this week. It will be 48 teams instead of the usual 32, where two teams from each group of four will make it to the knockout stages, as well as the best eight teams in third place across the 12 groupings.
LANDON DONOVAN RECALLS LIFE-CHANGING WORLD CUP MOMENT AMID PLAYERS’ ‘RESPONSIBILITY’ OF GROWING GAME IN USA
Gronkowski is looking forward to cheering on the U.S., and while it’s a longshot they win it all, he has a bar set for victory.
“If we get out of the tourney and into the knockout stages and at least win one of those games and get to the Round of 16, I think that’s a win,” he said. “That’s like the USA winning the World Cup. It’s not winning it all, but that just shows how special it would be if we got that far.”
Christian Pulisic poses with his jersey during the United States World Cup roster reveal in New York City on May 26, 2026. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
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The USMNT will face Paraguay on June 12, followed by matches against Australia on June 19 and Türkiye on June 25 to complete their group stage play.
And like many others simply watching to support the country and share their patriotism, Gronkowski now knows enough of the basics to get rowdy for a hopeful U.S. run.
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