Son Heung-min was circling the pitch at BMO Stadium to thank supporters when a man in the front row of Section 111 was recorded shouting what sounded like “ni hao” at him repeatedly. The video, filmed after LAFC’s 2-2 draw with LA Galaxy on Sunday, spread across social media within hours and drew calls from LAFC supporters for a lifetime stadium ban.

Three days on, the fan at the centre of the clip has given his version of events, and it differs sharply from the one that has gone viral.

“I yelled out his name in Spanish, which is ‘Mijo,’” he told Korea JoongAng Daily, saying another fan had misheard him and that the word, a Spanish term of endearment meaning “my son”, was his play on the player’s surname.

He added that he had been a season-ticket holder from the club’s first match and had contacted the LAFC front office.

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A witness called security during the game

The man, wearing an LAFC jersey and asking for signatures on his hat, was filmed from a nearby seat as Son made his lap of appreciation. The witness who recorded the clip wrote in a social media post that they had alerted stadium security but were told little could be done once the supporter had left his seat.

“This man straight up yelled nihao nihao at Sonny when he circled the field to thank the fans after the game,” the witness wrote in a post reproduced by Korea JoongAng Daily.

Fellow LAFC fans, identifying themselves on Reddit and X as season-ticket holders, demanded that his access be revoked, tmspn.com reported.

LAFC and MLS reviewing the footage

LAFC and MLS officials are expected to review stadium footage and have opened an internal review. Neither the club nor the league has issued a public statement.

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The incident has drawn heavy coverage in Asian media, where the use of “ni hao” directed at a Korean is routinely described as a racist microaggression that conflates East Asian nationalities. The Korea Herald noted that treating East Asians as if they are all Chinese amounts to racial stereotyping.

Son is the most prominent Asian footballer in MLS and joined LAFC in 2025 from Tottenham Hotspur. The derby itself clinched LAFC a place in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. His effort in the 28th minute was ruled out for offside after a lengthy video review, and the hosts came from two goals down in the second half to secure the point. He has 21 goals in 52 LAFC appearances across all competitions and was named to the 2026 MLS All-Star team.

As of Wednesday, neither LAFC nor MLS had announced any disciplinary action.

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