By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 12 – South Korean FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon today claimed that he had no plans to challenge Sepp Blatter for the Presidency of football’s world governing body.
Chung was forced to dampen down the speculation he had started last week when he had given a speech at the Leaders in Football Conference in London where he claimed that he was seriously considering standing against Blatter in the interests of “healthy” competition.
But he has now claimed that he will not run against Blatter and that he wants to concentrate on helping South Korea’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
“The first and foremost goal for me personally and for the South Korean Government is to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said.
“I am not thinking about running for presidency in 2011.”
Chung issued the clarification during a hastily-arranged press conference before South Korea’s match against Japan in Seoul tonight.
He claimed that his first priority was convincing the FIFA ruling Executive Committee why South Korea should stage the World Cup again after co-hosting it with Japan in 2002.
“I try to convince them by saying this would be our first full World Cup,” Chung said.
“It’s not as though the tournament will begin tomorrow. It’s still 12 years down the road.”
He admitted that the race was too close to call and that China’s decision to bid for the 2026 World Cup if the United States is awarded 2022 instead of one of the Asian candidates – who also include Australia, Japan and Qatar – had been an an unexpected and unwelcome distraction.
“Compared to the bidding process for 2002 World Cup, the competition is much more complicated and much tighter,” Chung said.
“And China has expressed intention to bid for the 2026 World Cup and that has emerged as a new variable for Asian countries.
“That is why we need more support from the people and the “overnment than ever before.”
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