By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – Four years after South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon, one of the most influential figures in world football administration, suffered a humiliating defeat after almost a generation as Asia’s FIFA vice-president, his family is gunning to get back to the top table.
Chung Mong-gyu, president of the South Korean Football Association, has thrown his name into the hat for a seat on FIFA’s all-powerful executive committee, following in the footsteps of his cousin who served on the exco from 1994 to 2010 and fronted his country’s failed bid for the 2022 World Cup.
The Asian Football Confederation has three vacant seats up for election at its Congress in Bahrain on April 30 in what promises to be a hotly disputed contest.
China’s Zhang Jilong has not yet said whether he intends to run again but Worawi Makudi of Thailand is expected to do so.
The deadline for nominations is February 28 and other contenders are likely to include Kozo Tashima (vice-president of the Japan Football Association), Tengku Abdullah (president of the Football Association of Malaysia) and Saud Al Mohannadi (vice-president of the Qatar Football Association).
AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa is standing (currently unopposed) for re-election for the most powerful post in Asian football and will also assume the FIFA vice-presidency position currently held by Prince Ali bin Al Hussein who is focussing on his bid for FIFA President.
Ironically, it was Prince Ali who ousted Chung Mong-joon in 2011 with Blatter’s tacit support. Now the Jordanian royal wants to unseat Blatter himself, illustrating the unpredictable nature of football politics.
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