FIFA presidential candidate Dr Chung Mong-joon has said he plans to sue Sepp Blatter for embezzlement if he is elected head of football’s governing body.
The South Korean billionare used his speech to the Leaders in Sports conference at Stamford Bridge to lambast the outgoing president, who is expected to leave his post in February, and commit to restoring “pride” at the embattled organisation.
Chung said that he would sue Blatter for two cases of embezzlement, relating to his undisclosed salary and the agreement between FIFA and Visa.
“Back in 2002 at a FIFA Executive Committee meeting I asked Blatter to report his salary and expenses but he refused.Naturally for Mr Blatter to get paid without ExCo approval is embezzlement,” Chung told a conference of leaders in the sport industry. “That is why I plan to sue Mr Blatter in court.”
The candidate, who led South Korea’s bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has been a consistent critic of the outgoing president and his organisation’s lack of transparency and also raised the issue of FIFA's relationship with sponsor Visa.
“At another ExCo meeting I raised the issue,” he said. “Mr Blatter tried to freeze me out. I was the only ExCo member to do so. This is another case on which I will sue Mr Blatter. The legal authoritites should also investigate the inappropriate relationship between Visa and FIFA.”
Blatter is under investigation by the Swiss attorney general relating to suspicious payments - he denies all wrongdoing.
The Leaders in Sport Business Summit was held at Stamford Bridge to gather the industry's most influential people to share insights and spark discussions that will help shape the future of sport.
