A court in South Korea has fined Son Woong-jung, the father of English Premier League star Son Heung-min, 3 million won ($2,200) for violating child welfare law at his soccer academy. The ruling also included fines for two coaches at the academy for the same violation. The incident involved a young player being hit by a coach with a corner flag and subjected to verbal abuse. Son Woong-jung denied the allegations but offered an apology and promised to reevaluate his coaching methods.
The academy, which was funded by Son Heung-min, had opened in 2021 with an estimated cost of $15 million. The parents of the affected player brought the case to court, prompting the ruling from the Chuncheon District Court in South Korea. The case has raised concerns about the treatment of young players in sports academies and the standards of coaching methods.
The ruling comes as a blow to the prestigious soccer academy and its founder, Son Woong-jung. Despite his denial of the allegations, the court found him guilty of violating child welfare law, along with two coaches from the academy. The incident has led to a reevaluation of coaching methods and practices at the Son Football Academy.
The case has attracted attention from the soccer community and the public in South Korea. It serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding child welfare laws and ensuring the well-being of young athletes in sports academies. Son Woong-jung’s fine highlights the consequences of failing to meet these standards in the training and development of young players.
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