South Korea’s midfielder Son Jun-ho gives a press conference before a training session at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha on November 22, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je/AFP)
BEIJING—-South Korean football player Son Jun-ho is being held in police custody in northeast China in connection with a bribery case, a Korean diplomatic source said on Monday.
His was detained on Friday, his 31st birthday. Reuters was unable to reach him for comment.
Son plays for the South Korean national team and Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan, based in the northeastern province of Shandong.
Son was currently in the custody of the Liaoning Public Security Department in connection with a bribery case, according to an official at South Korea’s consulate-general in Shenyang.
The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, said the consulate had requested a meeting with Son as soon as possible and was in contact with his family.
FILE PHOTO: December 5, 2022 South Korea coach Paulo Bento with Son Jun-ho and Son Heung-min after the match as South Korea are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The official gave no further details.
Shandong Taishan have not commented publicly on the case but the club posted a message on its official Weibo account on the day he was detained wishing him a happy birthday.
News of his detention was first published by Yonhap News.
When asked about Son on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was not aware of the case.
Neither Shandong Taishan nor the Liaoning Public Security Department immediately responded to requests for comment.
RELATED STORIES
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
readnext
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896-6000.