Son Heung-min loses his head and shown red card

Son Heung-min, a South Korean footballer for Tottenham Hotspur, has been red-carded for the first time during his career in the English Premier League (EPL). Son will not be able to play in Spurs’ final game of the season, while his team has loosened their grip on third spot.

Forty-four minutes into Saturday’s match against Bournemouth, Son was shown a red card for his push on Bournemouth’s midfielder Jefferson Lerma, who hit Son’s back while battling to gain possession of the ball. Lerma had continuously irritated the South Korean striker during the match, pushing him with his shoulders to the floor on 36 minutes and grabbing hold of Son’s uniform before Son was sent off. The Colombian footballer had joined Bournemouth prior to the beginning of the season.

Spurs were reduced to nine men after Juan Foyth was additionally dismissed on 48 minutes, and suffered a 1-0 defeat. Having failed to earn points against the club in the league’s lower rank, Spurs are scheduled to hold the final game against Everton, which is currently in 8th place, next Sunday without the South Korean player.

Defeating Bournemouth would have guaranteed Spurs a spot in the UEFA Champions League. With the loss, however, Spurs are now facing a big test through which they can slip to 6th place.


Seung-Kun Lee why@donga.com