A South Korean court has sentenced a woman in her 20s to four years in prison for blackmailing football star Son Heung-min, while her accomplice, a man in his 40s, received two years for attempted blackmail.

The pair falsely claimed that Son, the former Tottenham captain, was the father of her child and demanded ₩300 million ($200,000; £153,000), which she spent on luxury and designer goods. Prosecutors said the woman portrayed herself as a victim, but the court found that she and her accomplice had meticulously planned the crime and exploited Son’s celebrity.

Son, who transferred to Los Angeles Football Club in August after 10 years at Tottenham, reportedly endured intense mental anguish during the ordeal. The court highlighted the repeated threats and abuse of his status.

Widely regarded as one of Asia’s top footballers, Son was recently named the second-highest paid player in Major League Soccer, underscoring his prominence on and off the field.