Seoul: Former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon has called FIFA president Sepp Blatter a "little brat" who dictatorially rules world football`s governing body.
Chung made the criticism in a memoir published in South Korea last week, titled "My Challenge, My Enthusiasm." Chung had been regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Blatter before being defeated in an Asian election for the FIFA vice-presidency early this year.
The book hits stores as Blatter prepares to present detailed anti-corruption reforms in October after a year of scandal that has rocked world football.
"President Blatter is fluent in five languages, has a good way with words and is intelligent ... but I think he is not an international gentleman and he is like a little brat," Chung said in the book.
Chung, who served as a FIFA vice president for 16 years, accused Blatter of trying to usurp the authority of FIFA`s executive committee via his proposal to create an oversight, anti-corruption panel that could include former U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger and opera singer Placido Domingo.
"(FIFA`s) executive committee is an independent organ aimed at performing the roles of `checks and balance` to prevent the president from going beyond his own authority. Blatter is now attempting to take away the power of the executive committee and neutralize any effort to check his power," Chung wrote. "It`s a similar scheme that so many dictators have used in world history."
Chung also said that Blatter had unsuccessfully made a series of unrealistic, wild proposals, such as holding the World Cup every two years rather than every four and moving the goalposts to help allow more scores.
"Those proposals ... only triggered unnecessary friction and confusion," he wrote.
Blatter has long been a magnet for criticism, but the 75-year-old Swiss was elected unopposed earlier this year to a fourth term as FIFA president. His challenger Mohamed bin Hammam withdrew on the eve of the vote amid allegations that he tried to bribe Caribbean voters in his campaign to unseat Blatter.
The bribery scandal exiled FIFA vice president Jack Warner, and two other FIFA executive members, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, were suspended last November after allegations of vote-trading in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid races.
Blatter told The Associated Press late last month that he will announce his reform agenda after an Oct. 20-21 meeting in Zurich with his executive committee colleagues.
Chung isn`t the only one who has publicly criticized Blatter over his leadership style.
Last month, European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge called on Blatter to introduce reforms in FIFA or risk the fate of toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Blatter later said he had made peace with Rummenigge.
Chung, a senior South Korean lawmaker and billionaire businessman, had long headed the country`s football association and was a key factor in helping South Korea land the right to co-host the 2002 World Cup with Japan. He is now eying a run for South Korean president next year.
Chung`s late father Chung Ju-yung founded the Hyundai conglomerate — which is now a top-tier FIFA sponsor — and ran unsuccessfully for president of South Korea in 1992. The younger Chung was also a national presidential candidate in 2002.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.