By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon’s hopes of taking over from Sepp Blatter are hanging by a thread after a Swiss court rejected his request to temporarily lift his six-year ban so that he can stand as a candidate at the election on February 26.
FIFA said on Tuesday that a Zurich District Court had denied the South Korean’s request and had ruled there was no indication of a defective procedure on the part of the Ethics Committee in imposing the sanction two weeks ago.
Chung has said he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and has described the sanction, relating to his conduct over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process, as a “shameful attempt” to punish his open criticism of FIFA.
Being outside of football as a result of the ban, he had sought recourse to the civil courts so he could submit a presidency nomination by next Monday’s deadline but the tactic failed.
In his latest media release Wednesday, he said the ethics committee had yet to provide him with the reasoned decision behind his ban.
“FIFA continues to sabotage my candidacy for FIFA president,” Chung said in a statement.
“I am in a double bind: I cannot maintain my candidacy because of the unjust sanctions, but I cannot appeal those sanctions or get an injunction from the Swiss court because I do not have the reasoned decision that FIFA’s Ethics Committee has so far refused to send me.”
As well as Chung, Michel Platini has also seen his presidential hopes become seriously compromised, in his case because of a provisional 90-day suspension. But because Platini cleverly put his candidacy into FIFA the day before the suspension was announced, he could technically run if he clears his name in time. Insideworldfootball understands that Chung, on the other hand, did not taken the same precaution.
It is further understood that he has since tried and failed to persuade the ethics committee to lift his ban for 24 hours to give him the same leeway as Platini and submit his candidacy before Monday’s deadline.
“Due to FIFA’s interference, it will be difficult for me to meet the October 26 deadline to submit my candidacy for FIFA President,” wrote Chung. “However, if and when FIFA sends me its reasoned decision, I will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to expose the injustice of FIFA’s sanctions.
“The integrity of the next FIFA presidential election has already been seriously undermined by the unfair and unjust interferences by President Blatter’s cronies. According to FIFA regulations, a candidate must receive 2/3 of the votes in the first round or a majority vote after the second round in order to be elected the President. I am deeply concerned by press reports that President Blatter may seek to remain as the FIFA President if the February 2016 FIFA Congress is unable to elect a new President. They may ultimately prevent me from standing for FIFA President. However, as someone who truly loves football, I will continue to do all that I can to change FIFA. “
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734903558labto1734903558ofdlr1734903558owedi1734903558sni@w1734903558ahsra1734903558w.wer1734903558dna1734903558