"Tried to Push Son Heung-min Out?" Lee Kang-in's Side Vows Legal Action Over National Team Ostracism and Faction Rumors

Allegations spread that Lee and players born in 1996 sought to replace Son as captain
Agency: "Entirely unfounded"

South Korean national soccer team player Lee Kang-in said rumors of factionalism within the national team and speculation that captain Son Heung-min would be replaced, which recently spread online, were baseless, and announced plans to take legal action. Lee's management agency, The Black Label, issued an official statement on October 13, saying, "We have confirmed that false information related to Lee Kang-in has been spreading indiscriminately online."

South Korea national soccer team player Lee Kang-in said rumors of factionalism within the team and speculation that captain Son Heung-min would be replaced, which recently spread online, were baseless, and announced plans to take legal action. Yonhap News Agency.

The agency added, "We make clear that the series of claims currently being discussed have nothing to do with Lee Kang-in and are entirely baseless." The controversy arose as rumors that some members of the national soccer team were considering retirement spread online. After the friendly match against Uzbekistan on October 6, reports emerged that Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan, all born in 1996, were considering retiring from the national team, prompting various speculations about the atmosphere within the squad.

During this process, allegations emerged on some YouTube channels and social media that Lee Kang-in had joined players in the so-called "96 Line" to push for Son Heung-min to be replaced as captain. Some posts even claimed that Lee had helped form factions within the national team or tried to exclude Son. However, no concrete evidence to support these claims has been found. Some online videos were also reportedly edited with added captions to make it seem as though players were criticizing a particular teammate, using footage of them talking or laughing on the field or bench.

South Korean national soccer team player Lee Kang-in said recent online rumors of factions within the team and speculation that captain Son Heung-min could be replaced are baseless, and warned of legal action. Yonhap News Agency.

As unverified claims spread rapidly, Lee Kang-in's social media accounts were inundated with critical comments alleging factionalism within the national team and the ostracism of Son Heung-min. Some users joined in the criticism by bringing up the altercation between Lee and Son during the 2024 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. At the time, after the dispute became public, Lee apologized to Son personally and issued a public statement.

As unverified allegations and malicious comments continued online, Lee's representatives announced a firm response to protect the player. The Black Label warned, "We are collecting evidence of posts and comments that constitute the spread of false information and defamation, and will take the necessary legal steps depending on the circumstances." The agency added, "We are deeply grateful for the continued interest and support shown to Lee Kang-in, and will do our utmost to protect him."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.