Blatter under more pressure

13 April 2012

Eleven of FIFA's 24 executive committee members have joined a move to file for a criminal investigation against FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Chung Mong-joon, a vice-president of FIFA and head of South Korea's World Cup committee, said today: "Mr Blatter must face a thorough investigation over the abuse of his authority and misuse of FIFA funds. I understand a lawyer has been hired and legal action has begun."

Chung has joined a move by six of the eight European members of the executive committee - and backed by four African members - to hire a lawyer and ask Swiss prosecutors to investigate Blatter.

He said: "The alleged 'Blattergate' is scandalous. It's severely damaged FIFA's reputation and credibility in the world."

Chung, who is head of the South Korean Football Association, also appealed to FIFA's Asian members to block Blatter's bid for re-election.

The vote takes takes place on 29 May in Seoul just two days before the World Cup kicks off in South Korea's capital.

Blatter faces African chief Issa Hayatou in the race and Chung says the 50 Asian members of FIFA could sway the vote in the May election.

He added: "If Asia supports Mr Blatterto be re-elected, we will allow him to think he can continue to divide us. We should demonstrate that our votes cannot be bought - it must be earned with honesty and true leadership."

Chung accused Blatter of exploiting a FIFA development program - known as the Goal Project - to boost his reelection chances.

He also accused him of reducing the number of places allotted to Asian countries in the World Cup finals to two and said Hayatou, if elected, would correct that "insult" by allotting five spots of the 32 spots for Asian teams.

Chung also made it clear that the FIFA president should be selected from different continents in rotation.

Blatter has appealed directly to the 204 national associations to back him for another four-year term and has been campaigning hard in recent weeks.

Last Sunday he met Chinese football representatives in Beijing before taking his campaign trail to North Korea just 24 hours later.

Blatter claims that allegations of financial mismanagement are aimed at scuttling his campaign for re-election.

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