Midfielder Lee ruled out of Asian Cup

CANBERRA (Yonhap) ― South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-yong has been ruled out of the ongoing AFC Asian Cup with a hairline fracture to his right tibia, national team officials announced Tuesday, dealing a huge blow to the country’s hopes to end a half-century title drought at the continental tournament.

The Korea Football Association said Lee, the team’s assistant captain, was diagnosed with the fracture Monday.

Though he can engage in daily activities, doctors recommended that he sit out football-related activities for up to three weeks, the KFA said, adding he will leave for Seoul on Wednesday.

Lee, a midfielder for Bolton Wanderers, came down with the injury during the second half of South Korea’s first Group A match against Oman on Saturday.

He was tackled hard and then got up to play for a few more minutes before being stretchered off the field.

The injury didn’t appear to be serious at first.

In 2011, Lee suffered a gruesome double fracture to his right shin bone and missed almost a year of action.

The KFA said the small fracture this time has affected a different place in the leg.