| 1 | ZURICH (Reuters) - Outgoing president Sepp Blatter hit back at Chung Mong-joon, one of the candidates to replace him, for labelling FIFA a "corrupt organisation" on Monday and said the South Korean's remarks were "disturbing". |
| 2 | Swiss Blatter also pointed out in a statement issued by football's governing body that Chung was an influential member of FIFA for 17 years until 2011. |
| 3 | The 63-year-old billionaire scion of Korea's Hyundai industrial conglomerate launched his bid for the presidency in Paris earlier on Monday with a stinging attack on Blatter and Michel Platini, head of European football's ruling body UEFA. |
| 4 | Platini is another candidate to replace Blatter at the election on Feb. 26. |
| 5 | "It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear Dr Chung Mong-joon describe FIFA as a 'corrupt organisation' during a press conference announcing his candidacy," said Blatter. |
| 6 | "Even more so when one recalls, and as Dr Chung cannot have forgotten, that he was a FIFA vice-president and a FIFA emergency committee member for 17 years from 1994 until 2011. |
| 7 | "Regarding personal attacks made by Dr Chung at the same event, I will not comment further than to say that this is particularly disrespectful to all concerned. |
| 8 | "I would like to stress again that FIFA is dedicated to improving the organisation and will continue to strengthen its governance and accountability," added Blatter. |
| 9 | "Our work in this area continuously evolves and we are focussed on achieving the highest standards for the international football community." |
| 10 | During his speech and press conference, Chung made several references to corruption at FIFA. |
| 11 | "Michel Platini was a great football player and he is my friend," said the Korean. |
| 12 | "His problem is he does not seem to appreciate the seriousness of the corruption crisis at FIFA. |
| 13 | Chung also said "the problem at FIFA is that those mired in corruption, the only thing they are interested in is hiding the corruption". |
| 14 | He added that the core issue for the election "is whether the 40-year-old system of corruption should continue or not". |
| 15 | In a reference to Blatter, Chung added: "The real reason FIFA has become such a corrupt organisation is because the same person and his cronies have been running it for 40 years". |
| 16 | Blatter was secretary general for 17 years before being elected president in 1998. |