Page 21 - AUA Traveller

CHUNG MONG-JOON:
South Korean enters trace to
succeed Sepp Blatter at FIFA
COULD a billionaire automotive magnate be the
man to drive reform at the top of world football?
South Korean Chung Mong-Joon, who owns a con-
trolling stake in the Hyundai Group, is joining the
race to replace Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA. The
63-year-old tycoon is expected to formally announce
his campaign to lead football’s global governing body
next week.
Former French footballer Michel Platini, now chief of
European football body UEFA, announced his candi-
dacy Wednesday, while in June, Brazilian great Zico
also confirmed his decision to stand.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who failed to un-
seat Blatter in the last presidential elections in May,
is as yet undecided whether to add his name to the
shortlist of candidates for one of the most powerful
jobs in world sport.
FIFA has recently been embroiled in scandal after the
United States indicted 14 people, including nine top
FIFA officials, on corruption charges. Swiss authorities person, I like him very much,
simultaneously opened a separate investigation into
how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to
Russia and Qatar respectively.
Chung revealed his intentions in a series of interviews
with news agencies in Seoul Thursday, explaining
ARUBA TRAVELLER - Friday, July 31 2015
that he was seeking a single four-year term as FIFA
president.
“I am going to stand as a candidate for the FIFA presi-
dency,” he told the Reuters news agency. “It’s not easy, dynasty, which founded the powerful Hyundai Group
but people don’t want to be part of corruption. They
want to be part of the solution.
“We cannot leave FIFA in this kind of disgrace.”
Blatter was elected for a fifth term in May despite FIFA He was educated at the Massachusetts of Institute of
being swamped by corruption charges but, just days
later, the Swiss 79-year-old announced he would step
down as head of world soccer, though only after his
successor had been elected.
A new president won’t be chosen until 26 February
2016, and candidates have until 26 October 2015 to
secure support from at least five FIFA member associa-
tions and add their name to the ballot sheet.
As a former vice-president of FIFA and head of the
South Korean Football Association, Chung is
considered a strong force in Asian football.
Commenting on his presidential rival
Platini, Chung said: “He’s a good
but if you ask me if this is a
good time for Michel to be-
come president of FIFA,
right after Sepp Blatter, I don’t think this is good news
for FIFA and I don’t think it’s good for Michel either.”
Chung is part of his father Ju-Yung Chung’s self-made
of companies, which has interests ranging from motor
cars to ship building.
Technology and then the private John Hopkins Univer-
sity in Baltimore. In addition to his business interests,
Chung entered politics and was also president of the
Korean Football Association (KFA) during the 2002
World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
During his 17-year tenure as head of the KFA, the asso-
ciation’s budget reportedly increased from $3 million
to about $100 million. According to Forbes, he is also
worth $1.2 billion and is married with four children.
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