Frenchman Michel Platini has been criticised by a rival for the FIFA presidency as “a product of the system”.
Chung Mong-joon, a former FIFA vice-president from South Korea, announced last week he intends to run for the presidency and is expected to formally launch his campaign in August.
A long-time critic of outgoing president Sepp Blatter, Chung has called for a non-European to be elected to FIFA’s top post.
He told BBC’s World Football programme: “It will be very difficult for Mr Platini to have any meaningful reforms. Mr Platini enjoys institutional support from the current structure of FIFA. Mr Platini is very much a product of the current system.
“It is time that FIFA had a non-European leadership. FIFA became a closed organisation for President Blatter, his associates and his cronies and I want to change that.
“If I get elected, my job is not to enjoy the luxury of the office. My job is to change it.”
Chung is a rich industrialist who is the major shareholder of Hyundai. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan is also expected to run – he said on Wednesday that Platini would “not be good for FIFA”.
Platini remains the clear favourite to win the February 26 election – he has the support of four of the six FIFA confederations including Asia, the home confederation of both Chung and Prince Ali.
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
