Chung Mong-joon to run for top FIFA job
FIFA honorary vice president Chung Mong-joon
By Nam Hyun-woo
FIFA honorary Vice President Chung Mong-joon plans to run for the top job of the world football body, an aide said Tuesday, a day after FIFA agreed on a Feb. 26 election to replace acting president, Sepp Blatter.
Chung’s aide told The Korea Times that Chung is “in preparation for the presidential bid,” adding that a press conference for Chung’s official announcement will be arranged soon.
“Several steps are required before the announcement and there are still many figures he should meet before he officially announces his bid,” he said.
Chung also hinted at the bid during an interview with Yonhap News Agency, saying “I am thinking of running, not just for its renovation, but for the new era of FIFA.”
The move came after FIFA’s executive committee an election date to replace Blatter, who announced he would step down from the post last month after holding onto the top job in world football since 1998.
Chung, who served as a FIFA vice president from 1994 to 2011, has long been at odds with Blatter, criticizing the Swiss man who is at the center of a string of corruption cases that have tainted FIFA.
“The biggest problem is that FIFA is corrupt,” Chung was quoted as saying. “The reform measures that the current leadership is suggesting are nonsense. The fact that Blatter, who should be the main target of the reform, will stay in power until February to oversee the election and come up with reform measures clearly shows that FIFA is still far from waking up.”
“Those close to Blatter that enjoyed power should also repent and quit their job,” he said.
It took almost a month for Chung to express his intentions after he dropped a hint one day after Blatter announced his resignation.
Since then, Chung has been touring a number of FIFA events meeting influential figures, including UEFA President Michel Platini, who has emerged as a popular contender should he decide to stand in the election next year. Chung has mainly stayed away from FIFA events during the last four years since he was ousted as a vice-president by Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein in 2011.
For the job, there is a mixed bag of contenders. Brazilian great Zico, Argentine legend Diego Maradona and Liberia Football Association President Musa Bility have announced their bids, while strong contenders Platini, who reportedly has the support from key confederations already, and Prince Al Hussein, who lost to Blatter in May, are yet to make any official announcements.
Those who want to replace Blatter are required to have the nominations of federations from five countries before the Oct. 26 deadline.
Chung’s stance as a bitter critic of Blatter and having a key role in Korea’s co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup are favorable for him, but the question is whether other nations will unite behind the Korean. Platini has allegedly won the support of the Asian bloc.
A former lawmaker, Chung, also a scion of Hyundai Group, helped bring the FIFA World Cup to Korea in 2002, with Japan as a co-host.
Chung is now in Korea, but reportedly plans to announce his bid outside of the country.