(ATR) Chung Mong-Joon has blasted leaks attacking his integrity and "factual distortions" that are undermining his FIFA presidential campaign.
The former FIFA vice president of South Korea lashed out at attacks in the German media and leaks he alleges are emerging from within FIFA.
"Whether or not the upcoming FIFA presidential election takes place according to due process, fairness and openness will be the litmus test for whether or not genuine reform of FIFA will be possible," the statement said.
"Only a fair and open election can resuscitate FIFA`s reputation, which has been gravely undermined by scandals old and new.
"Unfortunately, there are increasing signs that the election is deteriorating into a typical FIFA affair with selective leaks of so-called 'confidential' information, accusations of wrong-doing based on 'unconfirmed reports,' unnamed 'sources' and 'insiders.'"
The 63-year-old said the recent press reports criticizing his character and integrity were based on "such unconfirmed, leaked sources and full of factual distortions."
Chung says he is clean and not facing any FIFA investigation or charges into corruption allegations.
Earlier this month, Chung was forced to deny allegations that payments made to Haiti and Pakistan in 2010 were anything more than "charitable donations."
"To be clear, contrary to recent press reports based on FIFA leaks, Dr. Chung is not facing any criminal charges or allegations of bribery, fraud, corruption, vote buying or even a breach of `conflict of interest` under the FIFA Ethics Code from the Ethics Committee," said the statement published in an AFP report.
"Beyond that, Dr. Chung refrains from commenting on any possible Ethics Committee proceedings out of respect for confidentiality requests made by FIFA.
"However, by leaking information that could only have come from within FIFA, FIFA is violating its own rules and regulations that it imposes upon others.
"Indeed, the current election is in danger of being manipulated to a degree unseen even in previous notorious FIFA presidential elections."
Sepp Blatter announced his decision to step down from the FIFA presidency in early June, four days after winning re-election for a fifth term, as the $150 million corruption scandal that led to the indictment of 14 FIFA officials and corporate executives threatened to engulf him.
UEFA president Michel Platini is the favorite to be elected to football’s top job in the election in Zurich on Feb. 26. He is set to publish his manifesto in September.
Written by Mark Bisson
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
