"Why Are You Doing This?"... Alleged Locker Room Conflict Between Son Heung-min and Hong Myung-bo During Mexico Match

Allegations have emerged regarding a conflict between former national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo and team captain Son Heung-min.

Representative Jin Jong-oh of the People Power Party claimed that he confirmed through a reliable source that a confrontation took place between Hong and Son in the locker room.

Jin explained, "After the match against Mexico, Son Heung-min was talking to his teammates in the locker room. Coach Hong approached him and asked, 'What are you talking about right now?' to which Son replied, 'I was discussing the match with the players.'"

Jin further claimed, "Hong then said, 'Why are you the one talking about that? I should be the one doing it. Everyone out.' I have verified the facts," he asserted.

Jin viewed this incident not as internal strife among players, but as a discord between the head coach and certain players.

He pointed out, "It was not internal conflict among the players, but rather discord between the coach and some players that affected the team's poor performance."

In fact, Hong excluded veteran players such as Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung from the starting lineup in the final Group A match against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond this, controversies surrounding the national team continue to surface.

In addition to the locker room conflict, it has been alleged that after the team boycotted interviews during the World Cup, Hong instructed the squad to resume media interviews, but some players, including Son, did not agree to do so.

However, it is reported that the Korea Football Association has refuted claims that Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung were excluded from the starting lineup due to a conflict with Hong.

Following the team's failure to advance from the group stage, Hong, Son, and Lee returned to Korea through Incheon International Airport on separate schedules.

Hong returned to Korea on June 30, while Son and Lee arrived on July 1.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Kim Bok-hyung | Graphics by Jung Yu-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.