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Portrait of Son Heung-min

Photo: Ujishadow · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in South Korea · Nationality South Korean — Sport / football / sporting discipline / media / personal life

Son Heung-min

Sport

South Korean international footballer and captain of the national team.

Documented profile covering 7 controversies, including “2024–2026: blackmail involving false pregnancy claim — two perpetrators convicted, sentences upheld on appeal” and “2024: Rodrigo Bentancur's racist remark about Son — seven-match suspension, appeal dismissed”.

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Profile No. 1702 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Son Heung-min

Photo: Ujishadow · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
7Documented controversies
11Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

2024-06–2026-04-08

2024–2026: blackmail involving false pregnancy claim — two perpetrators convicted, sentences upheld on appeal

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

A woman extorted 300 million won from Son by threatening to disclose an alleged pregnancy. She and a man then attempted to obtain another 70 million won by threatening to reveal the story to his family and the press.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Protagonist is the victim
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Yonhap News AgencyProsecutors indict duo accused of blackmailing Tottenham's Son Heung-minNews agencyVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Yonhap News AgencyWoman, man get prison terms for blackmailing Son Heung-minNews agencyVery high reliability
  3. [3]
    Yonhap News AgencyAppeals court upholds prison terms for woman, man for blackmailing Son Heung-minNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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02

2024-06–2024-12-16

2024: Rodrigo Bentancur's racist remark about Son — seven-match suspension, appeal dismissed

Civil / administrative proceedings

Rodrigo Bentancur made a remark generalising the appearance of Korean people in response to a question about Son. The FA found an aggravated breach involving nationality, race or ethnic origin.

Attribution
Protagonist is the victim

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The Football AssociationRodrigo Bentancur sanctionedOfficial documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    The Football AssociationAppeal from Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur dismissedOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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03

2024–2024-10-11

2024: Son's father and brother fined in family academy abuse case — Son not prosecuted

Protagonist not prosecuted

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Son's father, brother and another coach at their academy were each fined 3 million won in a case involving abuse of young players.

State of the evidence
Documented
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Yonhap News AgencySon Heung-min's father ordered to pay fine for child abuseNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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04

2023-05–2023-11

2023: racist abuse by Crystal Palace supporter — conviction and stadium ban

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

A supporter who made a racist gesture or directed racist abuse at Son pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and ultimately received a three-year football banning order, alongside other sanctions.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Protagonist is the victim
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Premier LeaguePremier League welcomes banning order for fan who abused SonSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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05

2019-05-04–2019-05-07

2019: sent off at Bournemouth after pushing Jefferson Lerma — Tottenham appeals

Civil / administrative proceedings

Son received a straight red card after reacting angrily to an incident involving Jefferson Lerma and pushing him in the chest.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    BBC SportBournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Nine-man Spurs fail to secure top-four spotBroadcastVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Sky SportsTottenham to contest Heung-Min Son's sending off against BournemouthPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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06

2019-11-03–2019-11-05

2019: tackle preceding André Gomes's serious injury — red card overturned for wrongful dismissal

Civil / administrative proceedings

Son was sent off following a tackle preceding André Gomes's fractured and dislocated ankle at Everton. He was visibly distressed by the severity of the injury.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Euronews / ReutersFA overturn Spurs striker Son's red card for tackle on Everton's GomesNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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07

2019-12-22–2019-12-24

2019: retaliatory kick against Antonio Rüdiger — red card upheld on appeal, three-match suspension

Civil / administrative proceedings

Against Chelsea, Son was sent off following VAR intervention for a retaliatory kick towards Antonio Rüdiger while he was on the ground.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Evening StandardTottenham fail with appeal against Heung-min Son red cardPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. Lee Kang-in2 documented references
  2. IU1 documented reference
  3. Kim Min-jae1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

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