Platini labelled a Blatter protege by Fifa presidency rival Chung
SOUTH Korean billionaire Chung Mong-joon branded Uefa chief Michel Platini a “protege of Blatter” after entering the race to succeed the outgoing president of football’s besieged world governing body Fifa yesterday.
Former Fifa vice-president Chung, who is the major shareholder of industrial giant Hyundai and said to be worth $1.2bn, has been a long-term critic of Blatter. While Platini remains the favourite to replace the Swiss in the presidential election, which is set to take place on 26 February, Chung believes the Frenchman’s past association with Blatter devalues his bid for power.
“There are several questions we can have whether Platini can symbolise a new era for Fifa or whether he is simply a protege of Blatter,” said Chung.
Chung actively campaigned against Blatter’s re-election as president in 2002 and accused him of misappropriating funds, while the 63-year-old has consistently been a proponent of electing a non-European candidate.
“President Blatter is like a cannibal eating his parents and then crying he’s an orphan. He tries to blame everybody except himself,” added Chung. “If I get elected, I’ll try to have more transparency.”