In a recent World Cup Asian Zone qualifier match held in Shenzhen, South Korea’s celebrated soccer star Son Heung-min’s on-field actions stirred controversy among Chinese fans. South Korea’s commanding 3-0 victory over China was overshadowed by the debate on Son’s goal celebration, which was perceived as disrespectful by many Chinese supporters.
The match, a critical fixture in the second group stage of the 2026 World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers, was played in Guangdong Province’s Shenzhen. Son, the captain of the South Korean national team and a renowned Tottenham Hotspur player, demonstrated his exceptional skills by scoring two goals in the first half and later assisting his teammate, Jung Seung-hyun, for the third goal. This win placed South Korea at the top of their group, significantly boosting their chances of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
The controversy centered around Son’s manner of celebrating his first goal, scored from a penalty in the 11th minute. After finding the net, Son rushed towards the stands, gesturing for the crowd to be silent. This act of ‘shushing’ the Chinese fans immediately sparked a reaction, both from the sell-out crowd of over 40,000 spectators and on social media platforms.
The gesture did not sit well with the Chinese fans, who expressed their displeasure by jeering. Additionally, Chinese players Wu Lei and Tan Long confronted Son on the pitch, evidently upset by what they perceived as a provocative act.
The incident quickly became a hot topic on China’s Twitter-like platform, Sina Weibo. Many users expressed their views, with one remarking that the best response to Son’s disrespectful gesture would be to outscore and win against the South Korean team.
Despite the controversy, Son spoke positively about the experience after the match. He praised the Chinese audience, acknowledging the challenge of the game and the exceptional support from the local fans.
China’s performance in the qualifiers has been a mix of highs and lows. After defeating Thailand 2-1 in their first match, they now stand third in Group C, level on points with Thailand, who is in the second position. The structure of the qualifiers dictates that the top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance to the third qualifying stage for the prestigious 2026 World Cup, set to be held in North America.
This incident highlights the intense passion and emotions that international soccer matches can evoke among players and fans alike. It also underscores the significance of sportsmanship and respect in competitive sports, especially in events with a global audience like the World Cup qualifiers.
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