Father of Tottenham star Son fined for violating child welfare law at soccer academy in South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – 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 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 academy opened in 2021, with much of the estimated cost of $15 million funded by Son Heung-min, the Tottenham and South Korea star.
Two coaches at the academy also each received a 3 million won fine 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 and also subjected to verbal abuse.
Son Woong-jung denied wrongdoing but offered an apology and promised to evaluate his coaching methods.
That has left Carlo Ancelotti and the club’s transfer chiefs still looking at potential options for January or next summer, especially with the aforementioned duo both in their 30s.
Romero is one of the names who is being heavily linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu along with Arsenal star William Saliba, who has formed a formidable partnership with Gabriel at the heart of the Gunners’ defence.
However, Daniel Levy was quick to slap a whopping £146million (€175m/$191m) price tag on the Tottenham man as soon as it became clear that Real had the Argentine World Cup winner on their shortlist of targets.
There have been rumours though regarding there being a release clause in the player’s contract which Real Madrid could look to activate, but Italian transfer expert Romano has now dismissed any such reports.
Sharing the update on X, Romano said: “There’s NO €65m release clause into Cuti Romero’s contract at Spurs despite reports from Argentina. Tottenham considered him untouchable last summer despite interest from top clubs.”
Romero has emerged as a real leader in the Tottenham dressing room since Ange Postecoglou walked through the door and has cleaned up some of the disciplinary issues he had last season.
Tottenham paid £42.5m in the summer of 2021 to land the 26-year-old after an initial loan spell in north London and he was made one of Postecoglou’s vice-captains alongside James Maddison after Postecoglou was appointed.
The Australian was, however, forced to defend Romero after the north London derby loss to Arsenal after reports of the centre-back being tired after returning from international duty as he was blamed for Gabriel outmuscling him for th
