Son Heung-min ‘blackmailed with fake pregnancy'
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of blackmailing Son Heung-min in a fake pregnancy plot.
South Korean media reported that police in Seoul had apprehended a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s on suspicion of extortion and attempted extortion, respectively.
Son's agency, Son & Football Limited, also said that officers were investigating a complaint filed by the Tottenham Hotspur captain amid accusations a woman had falsely claimed she was pregnant with his child and had demanded money from him to stay silent about it.
'The police are currently investigating, so we will let you know the results as soon as they are available,' the agency said in a statement.
'We'd like to tell you that Son Heung-min is clearly the victim of this incident.'
Son's police complaint is said to have been filed last week, with the 32-year-old's legal team alleging a woman claimed she was pregnant with his child in June last year.
It has been alleged that she asked Son to give her several hundred million won. At the current exchange rate, 100,000,000 South Korean won is worth more than £50,000.
Son, who is an icon in his homeland, is not married and does not have any known children.
He has dated Korean pop stars Bang Min-ah and Yoo So-young in the past but has also hinted that he would not settle down until he retired from football.
'My father says this and I agree, as well: when you marry, the No 1 will be family, wife and kids, and then football,' he told The Guardian in 2019.
'I want to make sure that while I play at the top level, football can be No 1.
'You don't know how long you can play at the top level. When you retire, or when you are 33 or 34, you can still have a long life with your family.'
The alleged blackmail plot has emerged a week before Son attempts to become the first Spurs captain to lift a major trophy at the club for 17 years.
Tottenham will also qualify for the Champions League if they beat Manchester United in next Wednesday's Europa League final.
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