FIFA hasn’t come to its senses: Chung

Former official criticises world football body’s decision to let Blatter remain.

SEOUL: South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-joon, one of the most influential figures in Asian football, said on Tuesday that leaving Sepp Blatter at the helm of FIFA until a new president is elected shows those in power at the scandal-hit governing body “have yet to come to their senses”.

Chung, the billionaire scion of the Hyundai conglomerate and a former FIFA vice-president, told Yonhap News agency he was still thinking about standing in the election, which will take place on February 26.

Blatter announced on June 2 he was standing down, just four days after winning a fifth term with an election victory at a congress overshadowed by the arrest of seven soccer officials.

“To leave Blatter in charge to manage the elections until February next year and to let him come up with a reform plan only shows that those involved are yet to come to their senses,” said Chung. “Plus, the idea that only a European can become FIFA president is why FIFA is plagued by corruption.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd,  2015.

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