It is expected that Son Heung-min (29, Tottenham) will participate in the Korea-Japan war only this weekend.
According to the Korea Football Association (KFA) on the 17th, Tottenham is currently closely grasping the physical condition of Son Heung-min, including the injured part, and has decided to forward the position regarding the selection of the national team to the KFA on the 19th-20th.
As soon as the KFA receives an official letter from Tottenham, it will officially announce whether Son Heung-min will participate in the Korea-Japan match.
Korea will play an evaluation match between Japan and the national team in Yokohama, Japan on the 25th, during the match period in March.
The national team coach Paulo Bento included Son Heung-min on the convocation list. However, Son Heung-min injured his hamstring (the muscle behind the thigh) in the Arsenal game held hours before the announcement of the list.
In the midst of this, the British media’Football London’ reported on the 16th that “Son Heung-min’s injury is not so severe that he can return in time for the Aston Villa away game this weekend.”
However, according to the KFA’s findings, the timing of Son Heung-min’s return to the ground is not clear yet.
A KFA official said, “Because Sohn Heung-min’s hamstring injury is not as clearly visible as a sprain or bruise, Tottenham is conducting various tests to check Son Heung-min’s condition.”
On the other hand, it is pointed out that as the war between Korea and Japan was held in the midst of the war, it was fundamentally impossible to extract Son Heung-min under the British government’s quarantine regulations.
The British government has enforced a special rule that allows elite athletes to be tested for new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) immediately after returning home and exempt them from quarantine if a negative test is found.
Therefore, if the team has to self-isolate for more than 5 days after returning to the national team, the rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA), which allowed the team to refuse the selection, do not apply.
However, it is known that the special regulations of the British government only apply when a game held abroad is played as’no spectators’.
It is said that Tottenham may refuse to borrow because it has been decided that the Korea-Japan War will be held in a related manner.
Regarding this, a KFA official said, “We are not currently considering that, and Tottenham has not mentioned. Both sides are focusing their attention on Son Heung-min’s physical condition.”
Whether or not Hwang Hee-chan of Leipzig (Germany) will be selected is expected to come to a conclusion sooner or later.
However, KFA believes that there is a high possibility that borrowing will be missed.
Hwang Hee-chan is discussing exemption from quarantine after returning home after his team and the state government confirm the player’s destination and itinerary.