He was ordered to pay a fine.
Son Woong Jungwell-known football coach and father of Premier League star Son Heung minimumwas fined by a local court following allegations of child abuse at his training academy.
The son was sentenced to pay a fine of ₩3.00 million KRW (approximately $2,220 USD) on Friday, October 11, along with his other son Son Heung Yun and another third coach of the Son Football Academy. All three coaches will also be required to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs.
The allegations were first raised in March, when the parents of a young player reported Son and his staff to the authorities. They claimed that during a training camp held in Japan, their child had been physically injured. Specifically, Son Heung Yun was accused of hitting the child with a corner flag, causing an injury that required two weeks of treatment. Additionally, Son Woong Jung was accused of verbally abusing players, allegedly using harsh language in response to mistakes made during the same training camp.
The ruling comes just two months after the Chuncheon prosecutor’s office indicted the coaches on charges of mistreatment of young players at the Son Woong Jung soccer center. The court also gave the defendants a seven-day window to appeal the decision and request a full trial.
While the court held the coaches responsible, Son Woong Jung continues to defend himself, saying much of what was reported is untrue. He insists that his actions were motivated by care and a desire to develop the young athletes at his academy.
In the past, Son Heung Min has often spoken about his father’s influence when he was training to become a footballer. The son said he was forced to hold the ball up for hours when he practiced as a child.
The coaches have the option to appeal the court ruling, which could lead to a formal trial in the coming weeks.
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