<p>Notwithstanding an altercation with captain Son Heung-min during the Asian Cup, Lee Kang-in was included in South Korea’s roster on Monday for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-497679″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/theindiaprint.com-after-an-altercation-with-his-son-psgs-lee-kang-in-is-included-in-south-koreas-wor.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com after an altercation with his son psgs lee kang in is included in south koreas wor” width=”978″ height=”653″ title=”After an altercation with his son, PSG's Lee Kang-in is included in South Korea's World Cup qualifying squad 9″></p>
<p>Before South Korea’s semi-final defeat to Jordan last month, Tottenham star Son collided with Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee, resulting in a dislocated finger.</p>
<p>Following reports from Yonhap news agency that the 23-year-old had attempted to hit Son, Lee later issued an apology. Representatives for Lee have refuted reports of a punch.</p>
<p>Son subsequently shared a photo of the couple on social media, looking happy and holding hands, along with a request for South Korean followers to forgive Lee.</p>
<p>After South Korea’s Asian Cup exit, Jurgen Klinsmann was fired, and Hwang Sun-hong, the country’s new interim coach, said that he had met with both players before selecting his team.</p>
<p>“Lee Kang-in expressed his sincere desire to apologize to supporters and his teammates, and Son Heung-min suggested that we should all accept Kang-in and proceed,” Yonhap cited Hwang as saying.</p>
<p>He went on, “I don’t think this is a problem between the two of them.”</p>
<p>“Everyone who was there, including the coaches, players, and support personnel, ought to accept accountability.</p>
<p>“We all need to be ready to make amends in front of our supporters during the next two games against Thailand.”</p>
<p>Lee and the other younger players are said to have started the argument by hurrying through supper so they could go out early and play table tennis.</p>
<p>This infuriated some of the more senior players, such as Son, who wanted to uphold the long-standing custom of using the pre-game meal as a chance for team building, which set off the fight.</p>
<p>Son and Lee both participated in the 2-0 defeat against Jordan, despite Jordan’s having two bandaged fingers.</p>
<p>Both will now play in World Cup qualifying matches on March 21 and 26 both at home and away against Thailand.</p>
<p>“My experience as a member of the national team suggests that addressing these kinds of problems early on can strengthen the team even more,” Hwang said.</p>
<p>A new full-time coach is expected to be appointed by the Korea Football Association prior to the June qualifiers against China and Singapore.</p>
<p>Hwang will take on the role of Under-23 coach in the meantime and lead South Korea to the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar in April, when spots for the Paris Olympics are up for grabs.</p>
<p>South Korea defeated China and Singapore to start their World Cup qualification campaign under Klinsmann.</p>