allegations of embezzlement, though the FIFA
president maintains he is innocent.
FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon has branded Sepp
Blatter "a hypocrite and a liar" and vowed to sue the Swiss for
embezzlement.
Former FIFA vice-president Chung underlined his disdain for the
state of the organisation while speaking at the Leaders Sport
Business Summit in London.
The South Korean billionaire claimed the corruption allegations
made against a number of FIFA executives this year has left a
stain on the governing body, and alleged that Blatter has
accepted salary payments without the approval of FIFA's
executive committee in the past.
"FIFA has become a badge of shame. To call it a mafia is
almost insulting to mafia, so blatant and arrogant is its
corruption," he said.
"At FIFA, money and power have blinded Blatter (to) the virtues
of sportsmanship. They are under the illusion at FIFA that they
are above human values.
"FIFA is very secretive. No one knows how it works. No one
knows what Blatter's salary is. Blatter has meddled in
confederation elections, he meddled in [UEFA president Michel]
Platini's appointment.
"For his payment without executive committee approval, I plan
to sue Mr Blatter for embezzlement in court. Mr. Blatter in short
is a hypocrite and a liar.
"The money I can claim from Blatter is in proportion with the
damage he inflicted on FIFA. If I succeed, the money should go
back to FIFA.
"If I'm elected president, I don't need a private jet to go to the
groceries, or to buy a pair of new shoes. I just need to rescue
FIFA."
Chung himself is facing a potential suspension over alleged
breaches of the FIFA ethics code in relation to South Korea's
World Cup bid for the 2022 tournament.
The 63-year-old said the claims, which are linked to allegations
of vote-swapping and the promotion of a $777million
development fund during the bidding process, are nothing but
attempts to discourage him from running for presidency.
"They've been doing everything to undermine me. I'm
disappointed but not surprised. I'm facing suspension for bid
processes.
"Unlike Blatter, [Jerome] Valcke, Platini, I'm not facing bribery
allegations, fraud or anything like that.
"There has been no proof of charitable donations I made. No
money or personal favours were exchanged.
"In 2010 they investigated me but ultimately (the) case was
closed. Valcke in a letter to me said the integrity of the
bidding
process was not affected."
Chung later condemned the decision not to investigate fellow
presidential candidate Platini's support for the Qatar bid.
"Mr. Platini voted for Qatar and his son landed a job a with a
Qatar company as chief executive. The ethics committee did
nOT
even start an investigation, this is a travesty of justice."
Blatter, under criminal investigation for corruption by Swiss
authorities, has persistently denied any wrongdoing.
"The situation is not pleasant," he told Bunte in an interview this
week.
"I am being condemned without there being any evidence for
wrongdoing on my part. That is really outrageous."
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