SOCCER-FIFA/CHUNG South Korea's Chung running for FIFA president

Record ID: 145637

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/CHUNG South Korea's Chung running for FIFA president
  • Date: 30th July 2015
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - JUNE 3, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHUNG AS HONORARY FIFA VICE PRESIDENT BOWING AND TAKING HIS SEAT AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS CHUNG SPEAKING VARIOUS OF CHUNG LISTENING CHUNG SPEAKING SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - JULY 14, 2010) (REUTERS) GRAND NATIONAL PARTY'S CONVENTION IN PROGRESS CHUNG WAS L
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UNBPLZQ3AFQ5831ZWQ833N0F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon, one of the most influential figures in Asian football, told Reuters on Thursday (July 30) he is entering the race to replace Sepp Blatter as president of football's world governing body.
    Chung, the 63-year-old billionaire scion of South Korea's Hyundai industrial conglomerate, said in an interview he would make a formal announcement next month in Europe, which he called "the centre of world football".
    "I am going to stand as the candidate for FIFA presidency," he said, acknowledging he had a tough fight ahead of him.
    In late May, federal prosecutors in New York indicted nine football officials, most of whom held or had held FIFA positions, and five sports media and promotions executives in schemes involving $150 million in bribes over a period of 24 years.
    "It is not easy, but people they do not want to be part of corruption. They want to be part of solution," Chung said.
    "We cannot leave FIFA in this kind of disgrace and the mess," he added.
    Chung said he did not yet have the required backing of five FIFA federations that would allow him to stand, but he was confident of getting that required support.
    "I hope I can have more than five nominations," he said, adding he had received assurances of support from within CONCACAF on a recent trip to the United States. CONCACAF is the ruling body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
    While UEFA chief Michel Platini, 60, appears to be the strong favourite to succeed Blatter, with four of the six FIFA confederations reportedly backing him, Chung said the Frenchman was not the right person for the job.
    "He is a good person, I like him very much, but if you want to ask me whether this is a good timing for Michel to become FIFA president, right after President Blatter, I do not think this is good news for FIFA and I do not think this is good for Michel as well," he said.
    Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president on May 29, but four days later said he would lay down his mandate amid the world crisis in the body's history. He will stay on until the election on Feb. 26.
    Prosecutors said their investigation exposed complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed income and tens of millions of dollars in offshore accounts held by the football officials.
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