The father of Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has been found guilty of physically and verbally abusing young footballers at his academy in Korea.
According to The Mirror, on Friday Chuncheon district court handed down three million won fines (£1,700) and an order to complete 40-hours in educational programmes to Son Woong-jung, another son named Son Heung-yun and a third unnamed coach.
Denying any wrongdoing, Son senior told the court that he “never spoke or acted in a way that was not based on love for children” after he and the two other coaches were charged with offences.
But the former international still apologised in court and vowed to review coaching methods at the academy, which opened in 2021 following significant financial investment from the Spurs star.
Son Woong-jung and Son Heung-yun were both indicted in the summer after the parents of one young player alleged that their son was struck by a corner flag in the thigh while at a training camp in Japan in March.
It was alleged that the boy required a fortnight of treatment, while Son Woong-jung was also charged with using profane language at young players for making mistakes in training sessions.
All three coaches have been given seven days to launch an appeal against the verdict.
Meanwhile, the South Korean forward is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained while in action for Spurs against Qarabag in the Europa League last month.
