Michel Platini may be the frontrunner to become FIFA's next
president, but his latest rival says the Frenchman cannot expect an easy ride
at February's elections according to his latest rival.
Already one
potential rival -- and former ally -- has claimed the head of European football
is "not the right man" to replace Sepp Blatter as leader of the world
governing body.
Then last weekend, UEFA reportedly made an official complaint to FIFA about an alleged "smear campaign" against Platini after the distribution of a critical article about him entitled "Skeleton in a closet."
Then last weekend, UEFA reportedly made an official complaint to FIFA about an alleged "smear campaign" against Platini after the distribution of a critical article about him entitled "Skeleton in a closet."
And now
billionaire Chung Mong-Joon has told CNN that the 60-year-old "does not
appreciate the seriousness of the nature of the current crisis" on the day
the former South Korean football chief became the fourth person to confirmed
candidacy for FIFA's top job.
Chung said Platini's previous close relationship with Blatter,
which soured when the Swiss stood for reelection in June despite promising he
would not, means the former France international cannot be an effective
reformer at the scandal-hit organization.
"We all
know the personal relationship between Michel Platini and President Blatter. It
was like a mentor and protégé, or even father and son," Chung said Monday.
"Now
Platini claims President Blatter is his enemy ... so it suddenly has become
fashionable to become Blatter's enemy. That's too convenient. I don't think
it's good for Michel, I don't think it's good for FIFA to see Michel as the
next FIFA President. That's the reason why I decided to run."
Platini is one of FIFA's vice-presidents -- a position Chung
held for over a decade until he lost his place on the executive committee in
2011.
An active critic
of Blatter, Chung had suggested he would stand in that year's presidential
elections, but could not do so after being replaced as Asia's ExCo
representative by Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.
Prince Ali ended
up standing against Blatter in this year's vote, but conceded after the first
round even though the incumbent had not won the two-thirds majority required to
guarantee victory.
The 39-year-old
has suggested he may try again at February's special election -- which was
called after Blatter decided to step down just days after his June reelection
due to a new corruption scandal which implicated several top FIFA officials.
Prince Ali told
CNN Arabic last week: "I do not think Platini is the right man for the new
phase because this stage needs young blood, and minds which can understand the
international needs -- not just the European ones."
Like Ali, Chung
says Platini is not the right candidate to bring in the type of changes that
FIFA needs to be more transparent in its operations.
The Korean is
now an honorary FIFA VP, which allows him to stand in the elections. He said he
is now "legally separate" from his family's conglomerate Hyundai --
which is a FIFA sponsor -- meaning he has no conflict of interest.
"We know
Michel Platini was a great footballer -- he's my good friend -- but his problem
is he does not appreciate the seriousness of the nature of the current
crisis," the 63-year-old told CNN.
"When we
talk about FIFA's corruption program he replies that he didn't know about the
corruption. I believe him but that's not good enough for him to say that."
Platini's
spokesman told CNN he had no immediate response to Chung's comments, but the
UEFA chief would "address all of this" at a press conference at the
end of this month.
Blatter has also
insisted he was unaware of the corruption which has allegedly beset FIFA in
recent years.
"He is a very smart person," Chung said of the
79-year-old. "He can speak five different languages but I think that one
of his major problems is that he is very smart but doesn't know how to respect
his own colleagues. That's a big problem."
Chung said world
football needs a president who will continue to develop the fortunes of regions
such as Asia and Africa, which are still catching up with the traditionally
powerful European nations.
"If those
major cities in Asia and Africa have good football clubs who can compete with
European clubs, then that's the future of football and I want to do my best for
the realisation of that vision," he said.
Chung says Blatter should step down now, rather than wait until
his successor is appointed next year.
"The EU
Parliament announced two months ago that he should step down immediately. We
need an Extraordinary Congress or an Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting
to choose an interim president who can take care of the business."
To stand in the
February 26 election, candidates will need letters of support from at least
five FIFA member nations. Paltini, Chung, ex-Brazil player Zico and Liberian FA
chairman Musa Bility have announced their intention to run for president.
FIFA was plunged
into crisis in late May when seven officials were charged for racketeering,
wire fraud and money laundering by the FBI.
The charges are
part of a U.S. prosecution that indicted a total of 14 people from around the
globe.
Meanwhile, a
separate probe by Swiss authorities is investigating potential corruption into
the bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Qatar's
controversial bid for the latter was backed by Platini, and the tournament has
since been switched from the emirate's summer months to the winter following
concerns over unsafe temperatures.
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