Facing suspension: FIFA presidential candidate Chung ‘targeted’
FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon speaks during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, September 3, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon has said he is facing a 15-year suspension by FIFA’s Ethics Committee that has “sabotaged” his campaign for the FIFA Presidency, but he denied any wrongdoing and vowed to continue his bid to lead soccer’s world governing body.
Speaking at a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday, Chung read out a nine-page statement, addressing the charges against him, which he dismissed as a ploy “to prevent me from running for the President of FIFA”.
“The fundamental reason why I am being targeted is that I aimed straight at the existing power structure of FIFA,” said Chung.
Bound by confidentiality rules, FIFA’s Ethics Committee has not made any statements on Chung’s case and there was no immediate response to his comments on Tuesday.
Chung said he was being charged with violating six articles from FIFA’s Code of Ethics, which he said stemmed from his “support” for South Korea’s 2022 World Cup bid and his proposal to launch a Global Football Fund.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2015.