Lee, the 23-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain, posted his apology on Instagram Wednesday morning in South Korean time, a week after the incident between him and Son, also captain for Tottenham Hotspur, during the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup was revealed.
About an hour later, Son also took to social media to announce he accepted Lee’s apology and also called on football fans to forgive Lee. Son also uploaded a photo of himself standing with Lee, both of them smiling.
Reports confirm earlier speculation that South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min injured his finger during a tense encounter with teammate Lee Kang-in. Apparently, on the eve of a crucial Asian Cup game, Son tried to bring everyone together for a bonding dinner. However, Lee and some younger players left early to play table tennis. Son reportedly asked them to stop, leading to an argument and physical altercation that required intervention from teammates. Sadly, the incident resulted in Son suffering a dislocated finger, casting a shadow over the upcoming match.
Lee said :”I thought it would be important to visit Heung-min and offer my heartfelt apology. Through our long conversation, I was able to understand the weight he had been carrying as captain of the national team, and also to reflect on myself,” Lee wrote. “I’d like to take this opportunity to once again thank Heung-min for welcoming me so warmly in London with open arms.”
“I knew in my head how important this tournament was to Heung-min, but I didn’t show that with my behavior. And I think that’s where all the problems began,” Lee wrote. “In particular, I did not listen to advice he gave to me as captain and teammate to ensure team cohesion. I just expressed my own opinions.”
Sources have said Lee took a swing at Son but didn’t connect. Lee’s legal representatives have countered that reports of Lee’s striking Son aren’t true.
Without going into specifics, Lee apologized for his action.
“At the team dinner that day, I did something I should never have done. When I look back on it now, I should never have done that,” Lee said. “I am deeply sorry for that.”
Lee said he had reached out to every one of his teammates from the Asian Cup to apologize, and thanked them for accepting his apology.