Spurs star’s father fined over mistreatment of players at football school

A court in South Korea has fined Son Woong-jung, the father of English Premier League star Son Heung-min, three million won (£1,700) for violating child welfare law at his football academy.

The Chuncheon district court notified prosecutors on Friday that it issued such a ruling on Son Woong-jung, director of the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon city, according to a local prosecutors’ office.

The charge relates to verbal and physical abuse of young players at the academy.

The academy opened in 2021, with much of the estimated cost of £11.5 million funded by his son, the Tottenham and South Korea star.

Two coaches at the academy also each received fines for the same violation, the prosecutors’ office said.

The parents of a young player have said their son was hit by one of the two coaches with a corner flag post and also subjected to verbal abuse.

Son Woong-jung denied wrongdoing but offered an apology and promised to evaluate his coaching methods.