Lee Kang-in decided not to play in the match against Real Sociedad due to illness.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is playing against Real Sociedad in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16 in the 2023-24 season at 5 a.m. on the 15th (Korea time) in Paris, France.
The showdown between the two teams was also a match that attracted attention from domestic soccer fans as a showdown between Lee Kang-in and Kubo Takefusa. However, the mini-Korean match between Lee Kang-in and Kubo, which fans have been waiting for, did not take place. This is because Lee Kang-in’s name was excluded from the roster announced by PSG ahead of this match.
Lee, who returned to PSG team training ahead of the match against Sociedad, was suddenly removed from the roster because he was sick. “It wasn’t planned,” France’s Le Parisien said ahead of the match between PSG and Sociedad. After finishing his one-week vacation after returning from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 꽁머니, Lee had to wait on the bench in the match against Sociedad. However, he was not allowed to play in this UCL match due to the virus. “After a tough night, PSG’s coaching staff decided not to allow Lee to play in the match against Sociedad,” he reported.
“Lee had just returned to training with the rest of the team last Tuesday morning. He was warmly welcomed by all his partners when the training began and smiled brightly when he touched the ball on the field for the first time. Unfortunately, these setbacks postponed his return to the tournament for a few days,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lee Kang-in apologized for what happened to the South Korean national soccer team during the Asian Cup. Lee reportedly clashed with veteran players, including Son Heung-min, ahead of the Asian Cup semifinal match against Jordan. The Korea Football Association (KFA) admitted that Son suffered a finger injury in the process.
In response, Lee Kang-in said on his personal SNS on the 14th, “There was an article reported that I had an altercation with Son Heung-min ahead of the semifinals of the Asian Cup. I am very disappointed in the soccer fans who always support the national team. I am very sorry. I should have taken the lead and followed the older members’ words well, but I am just sorry to show a bad performance to the soccer fans. I apologize to many people who would have been disappointed in me. I am well aware of the interest and expectations that soccer fans send me. From now on, I will try to help my older brothers and become a better player and a better person.”