Spurs to take action after Korean star Son racially abused

Tottenham Hotspur are to take action after Korean star Son Heung-min was subjected to "abhorrent racist abuse" on social media following Sunday's 3-1 defeat by Manchester United. Son is the second Spurs player in as many matches to suffer such abuse following Davinson Sanchez after the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Apr. 4. Son scored Spurs's goal but was involved in a controversial incident when he went down clutching his face after contact with Scott McTominay. That resulted i

April 12, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min ties Premier League career high with 14th goal of season

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has equaled his career high for goals in a Premier League season. The South Korean star netted his 14th goal of the campaign in a3-1 loss to Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). Son's 40th-minute goal, set up by Lucas Moura, put Tottenham ahead 1-0, but Man United rallied with three unanswered goals for the victory. This was Son's first goal in the league since Feb. 7 against West Bromwich Albion. With 14 goals, Son

April 12, 2021

K League contenders looking to create two-horse race for 3rd straight year

They've dominated South Korean club football for the past two years. And Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the K League 1 champions in both seasons, and Ulsan Hyundai FC, runners-up both times, are trying to turn the 2021 season into yet another two-horse race. Jeonbuk are sitting pretty atop the tables thanks to an eight-match undefeated run to open the season. With 20 points from six wins and two draws, Jeonbuk are three points ahead of Ulsan (five wins, two draws and one loss). Below Ulsan are three

April 9, 2021

Women's football coach says Olympic dream not over yet despite loss to China

One loss, however crushing it may be, won't end South Korea's dream of playing in the women's football tournament at this year's Tokyo Olympics, head coach Colin Bell said Thursday. Bell's charges lost to China 2-1 in the opening leg of the Olympic women's football qualifying playoffs at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul. Wang Shuang's 73rd-minute penalty was the difference in a hard-fought contest. Down by one goal in the aggregate score and by two in away goals, South Korea f

April 8, 2021

Jeonbuk remain undefeated in K League after winning rival match

Seven matches into the 2021 K League 1 season, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are the only undefeated club. Jeonbuk defeated Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-1 on Saturday, a match contested against the backdrop of Jeonbuk's controversial acquisition of a former Suwon youth player Paik Seung-ho. Suwon have claimed that Paik, one-time FC Barcelona prospect, had contractual obligations to sign with them after returning from Europe. But Jeonbuk have countered that the midfielder was available because Suwon had

April 5, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min held off score sheet in return from injury

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has returned from a hamstring injury, playing the first half of a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in Premier League action on the weekend. Son didn't record a shot in his 45 minutes of action at St. James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne in England on Sunday (local time). Carlos Vinicius started the second half in Son's place. It was Son's first match since injuring his left hamstring in a North London Derby against Arsenal on March 14. It only cost Son one Prem

April 5, 2021

Clubs caught up in signing controversy set for clash as K League season resumes

Two rival clubs at odds over a disputed player acquisition will square off in the K League 1 as the season resumes over the weekend following a brief international break. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, currently in first place with 14 points, will visit Suwon Samsung Bluewings, in fourth with 11 points, at 2 p.m. Saturday. The kickoff is at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. It's a matchup between the league's most productive offense (Jeonbuk) and its stingiest defense (S

April 1, 2021

S. Korean defender wary of Japan's 'precise passing' ahead of football friendly

On the eve of his team's football friendly match against Japan, South Korean defender Kim Young-gwon said Wednesday he'll keep a close eye on the opposition's passing game. The two longtime rivals will square off at 7:20 p.m. Thursday at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. It's their first meeting since December 2019, and 80th head-to-head match overall. In an interview clip provided by the Korea Football Association (KFA) Wednesday, Kim reflected on what he learned from facing Japan o

March 24, 2021

[Newsmaker] Football star Ki Sung-yueng files damage claim against accusers

South Korean football star Ki Sung-yueng has filed a claim for damages against two former teammates who have accused him of sexual assault from over 20 years ago. Ki's legal representative, Song Sang-yeop of the Seoul-based law firm Seopyeong, put out a press release on Monday, announcing that Ki is seeking 500 million won ($442,530) in compensation for damages caused by what Ki has said are false accusations against him. Song said the claim was filed at the Seoul Central District Court. Separ

March 22, 2021

FC Seoul continue early-season surge behind captain's unexpected scoring prowess

FC Seoul captain Ki Sung-yueng has never been a goal scorer. The 32-year-old midfielder has built his career on setting up forwards with long passes and relying on his on-field vision to play solid two-way game. And yet, here is Ki, having scored in three straight matches for his K League 1 club. Ki's equalizer late in the first half helped pave the way for FC Seoul's 2-1 victory over Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Sunday in the season's first "Super Match" derby. Ki has three goals over

March 22, 2021

Decimated nat'l football team replaces injured midfielder

The South Korean men's national football team has been bitten hard by an injury bug ahead of a friendly match against Japan, with yet another key player getting cut with a leg injury Monday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Ulsan Hyundai FC midfielder Yoon Bitgaram suffered a left calf injury over the weekend and will be replaced by his K League 1 teammate, Lee Dong-gyeong. Yoon was hurt during a league match against Daegu FC on Sunday and was substituted early in the second half. Co

March 22, 2021

Injured Tottenham star Son Heung-min to miss Korean friendly vs. Japan

Tottenham Hotspur's injured Korean star Son Heung-min has been ruled out of his country's friendly match against Japan this week. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Sunday that Son will not be made available by the Premier League club for Thursday's match in Yokohama, just south of Tokyo. Son suffered a left hamstring injury during a Premier League match against Arsenal in London last Sunday. The match was played in the early hours of Monday in South Korea, and merely hours after

March 21, 2021

With 3rd straight win, titleholders Jeonbuk rise to 1st place in K League

Don't look now, but here come the champions. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, chasing a record fifth straight title in the K League 1, have climbed to the top of the tables this week. They defeated Daegu FC 3-2 on Tuesday for their third straight win and fourth in five matches in the young season. With 13 points -- they also have a draw -- Jeonbuk sit two points clear of Ulsan Hyundai FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Both Ulsan and Suwon have three wins and two draws, with Ulsan in second place thanks

March 18, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min suffers hamstring injury vs. Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur didn't just lose to Arsenal in their latest North London derby; they also lost South Korean star Son Heung-min to a hamstring injury. Son pulled up clutching his left hamstring in the 19th minute of a 2-1 loss to Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). The match was scoreless as Son walked off the pitch, and Tottenham failed to stay in front after Erik Lamela put them on the board in the 33rd minute. Arsenal tied things up late in the first half, and Alex

March 15, 2021

1st-year K League coach demands more from undefeated club

Ulsan Hyundai FC's first-year head coach Hong Myung-bo isn't yet 100 percent satisfied, not even after his K League 1 club won their third straight match of the 2021 season in convincing fashion. Ulsan beat Incheon United 3-1 Tuesday night at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul. They're the only team this season to win three straight matches out of the gate, with Suwon Samsung Bluewings having a chance to join them later Wednesday. Ulsan have scored nine go

March 10, 2021

Juggernauts win 2nd straight match, embattled star shines in K League

In a bid to end a long K League 1 title drought, Ulsan Hyundai FC aren't messing around. Ulsan won their second straight match out of the gate in the 2021 season Saturday, when they beat Gwangju FC 1-0 behind rookie Kim Min-jun's first career goal in his first-ever start. With former South Korean national team boss Hong Myung-bo in charge, Ulsan have won their first two matches by a combined 6-0. Ulsan finished runners-up to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in each of the past two seasons. No K League

March 8, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min sets Premier League single-season record for goal combinations

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min has put his name in Premier League record books. Son assisted on Harry Kane's goal in the 76th minute of a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). The duo have now combined for 14 goals in the 2020-2021 campaign, the most by any pair of teammates in a single season in league history. Son and Kane had been tied with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn Rovers from the 1994-1995 seas

March 8, 2021

S. Korea, Japan discussing holding men's football friendly in March

South Korea and Japan are having discussions on holding a men's football friendly match in Japan later this month, an official here said Wednesday. The official with the Korea Football Association confirmed an earlier media report that the Japan Football Association has proposed a friendly match during the next FIFA international match window of March 22-30, despite obvious hurdles presented by the coronavirus pandemic.  Any football match between these two bitter rivals is a must-see

March 3, 2021

K League clubs exploiting new substitution rules

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors had just taken a 1-0 lead over FC Seoul in the 75th minute of their K League 1 season opener Saturday. Naturally, two minutes later, Jeonbuk's starting goalkeeper Song Bum-keun was replaced. So, what happened there? Jeonbuk head coach Kim Sang-sik sent in a 19-year-old goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon to tend the net for the final stretch. Fortunately for Jeonbuk, nothing disastrous happened in the teenager's K League debut, and Mo Barrow scored a late insurance goal to seal a

March 2, 2021

[Newsmaker] Court battle looms for football star Ki Sung-yueng in assault scandal

A bitter court battle is potentially on the horizon for the South Korean football star Ki Sung-yueng against his two former teammates accusing him of sexual and physical assault, following an about-face by the lawyer representing the two on Tuesday. Ki, midfielder for FC Seoul in the K League 1, has repeatedly denied those assault charges, first levied against him by two elementary school teammates last Wednesday. They claimed that Ki ordered them to perform sexual acts on him and beat them up

March 2, 2021