Web backlash after Koreans criticize Lamela over Son penalty rift
Tottenham Hotspur's Korea striker Son Heung-Min, left, and Argentinian midfielder Erik Lamela clash before Lamela takes a penalty during the English Premier League football match between Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane in London on Oct. 2. / AFP-Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
Some Korean netizens have become targets of criticism after they cyberbullied Tottenham Hotspurs’ Erik Lamela for blocking Korean Son Heung-min’s chance to score from a penalty kick in an English Premier League match on Sunday.
Tottenham was leading Manchester City 2-0 in the second half at White Hart Lane in London when the Spurs were awarded a penalty kick.
Lamela and Son briefly argued over who was to take the shot.
Son eventually yielded the ball but the Argentine player’s shot was stopped by Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Korean netizens berated Lamela on his SNS pages, including Instagram, in Korean and English. Their harsh language dominated the 2,800 comments on the web pages, about 10 times the usual number.
Some netizens apologized to Lamela on behalf of the Koreans for the bullying. One from Oct. 3 read: “So many stupid Koreans :) sorry Lamela.”
Other apologies came from Koreans who were ashamed of the cyberbullies. One read: “So many dumb Koreans. Cyber terrorists must disappear.”
Some cyberbullies pretended they were Japanese.
Chosun Ilbo referred to the cyberbullies as “online hooligans.”
“Harassing a person just because their country’s athlete lost a chance at a penalty shot only instills an image of an ugly Korean,” a Korean netizen said, according to the report. “Please think if such behavior will help players like Son.”