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Chung Mong-Joon: FIFA hopeful says rival Platini should not win presidency
By Alex Thomas and Gary Morley, CNN
Updated 1138 GMT (1838 HKT) August 18, 2015
fifa chung mong-joon interview south korean billionaire_00000918
FIFA presidential candidate says Blatter must step down 03:07
Story highlights
Chung Mong-Joon confirms he will seek to become next FIFA president
South Korean says favorite Platini has been too close to incumbent Blatter
(CNN)Michel Platini may be the frontrunner to become FIFA's next president, but his latest rival says the Frenchman cannot expect an easy ride at February's elections according to his latest rival.
Already one potential rival -- and former ally -- has claimed the head of European football is "not the right man" to replace Sepp Blatter as leader of the world governing body.
Then last weekend, UEFA reportedly made an official complaint to FIFA about an alleged "smear campaign" against Platini after the distribution of a critical article about him entitled "Skeleton in a closet."
And now billionaire Chung Mong-Joon has told CNN that the 60-year-old "does not appreciate the seriousness of the nature of the current crisis" on the day the former South Korean football chief became the fourth person to confirmed candidacy for FIFA's top job.
Chung said Platini's previous close relationship with Blatter, which soured when the Swiss stood for reelection in June despite promising he would not, means the former France international cannot be an effective reformer at the scandal-hit organization.
"We all know the personal relationship between Michel Platini and President Blatter. It was like a mentor and protégé, or even father and son," Chung said Monday.
"Now Platini claims President Blatter is his enemy ... so it suddenly has become fashionable to become Blatter's enemy. That's too convenient. I don't think it's good for Michel, I don't think it's good for FIFA to see Michel as the next FIFA President. That's the reason why I decided to run."
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/17/fo...ency-football/
By Alex Thomas and Gary Morley, CNN
Updated 1138 GMT (1838 HKT) August 18, 2015
fifa chung mong-joon interview south korean billionaire_00000918
FIFA presidential candidate says Blatter must step down 03:07
Story highlights
Chung Mong-Joon confirms he will seek to become next FIFA president
South Korean says favorite Platini has been too close to incumbent Blatter
(CNN)Michel Platini may be the frontrunner to become FIFA's next president, but his latest rival says the Frenchman cannot expect an easy ride at February's elections according to his latest rival.
Already one potential rival -- and former ally -- has claimed the head of European football is "not the right man" to replace Sepp Blatter as leader of the world governing body.
Then last weekend, UEFA reportedly made an official complaint to FIFA about an alleged "smear campaign" against Platini after the distribution of a critical article about him entitled "Skeleton in a closet."
And now billionaire Chung Mong-Joon has told CNN that the 60-year-old "does not appreciate the seriousness of the nature of the current crisis" on the day the former South Korean football chief became the fourth person to confirmed candidacy for FIFA's top job.
Chung said Platini's previous close relationship with Blatter, which soured when the Swiss stood for reelection in June despite promising he would not, means the former France international cannot be an effective reformer at the scandal-hit organization.
"We all know the personal relationship between Michel Platini and President Blatter. It was like a mentor and protégé, or even father and son," Chung said Monday.
"Now Platini claims President Blatter is his enemy ... so it suddenly has become fashionable to become Blatter's enemy. That's too convenient. I don't think it's good for Michel, I don't think it's good for FIFA to see Michel as the next FIFA President. That's the reason why I decided to run."
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/17/fo...ency-football/