KFA PRESIDENT EXPLAINS

The Korean Football Association is at the center of a row that could have a huge impact on global soccer.

That sounds a little dramatic when you learn that it is all about the May 8 election for the West Asian seat on the executive committee of FIFA. But this seemingly less-than-vital vote could have major repercussions.

Asia has four seats on the committee, with only the West Asian one up for grabs. It is currently occupied by the Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam and he is being challenged by Shaikh Salman of Bahrain. Despite the fact that he is due to be AFC chief until 2011, the Qatari Bin Hammam has publicly said that he will treat the May 8 election as a referendum on his administration and step down as confederation president if he loses.

Bin Hammam has repeatedly claimed that Salman has been put up to his campaign by Chung Mong-joon. Chung is not only a fellow executive seat member, he is the vice-president of FIFA and honorary president of the Korean Football Association. In short, he is suave and serious player in the world game. If that weren't enough, his father founded Hyundai, he is a Korean National Assembly member and is widely credited with bringing the 2002 World Cup to Korea.

Bin Hammam was recently named the third-most powerful man in football by World Soccer magazine. When friend and ally Sepp Blatter steps down from the No. 1 position, Bin Hammam could be the man to replace him. But, as the Qatari told me last week, Chung wants to stop that from happening. This is why, the theory goes, he has sent Sheikh Salman to do his bidding.

"Chung and myself have never enjoyed a good relationship in the 20 years or so since I came to the AFC," Bin Hammam said. "The second thing is that Chung is trying to contest for the FIFA presidency and he knows that I am not going to support him. ... This man knows nothing about football."

Strong words, and he didn't stop there.

"I was preparing a clean and fair play campaign. One thing you know that if Chung is your opponent then a fair campaign is not going to be there. This is his nature ... the man can't do fair play."

Chung has said little so far. After all, he is not a candidate and there is a feeling that a mudslinging match is what Bin Hammam is aiming for. Instead, KFA General-Secretary Sam Ka was only too happy to oblige when invited to comment.

"I never heard about any kind of financial assistance given to Sheikh Salman by Chung. (Regarding the KFA), we can show you any financial statement. I don't know why he said the KFA is financing Sheikh Salman. As far as I know, Sheikh Salman is much richer than anybody in the KFA."

Chung was the president of the KFA for 16 years before he retired in January. In addition to remaining its honorary president, he has been a valuable contributor to Korean and East Asian football. For anyone to say that Chung doesn't know about football is not a joke; it is nonsense.

Many so-called major football countries, not only Korea but Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and others are not happy with Bin Hammam's management of the AFC. Many say that he became more dictatorial and unilateral. That is why many support his opponent.

Sheikh Salman, for his part, has threatened to take legal action if Bin Hammam does not prove his accusations.

Being perceived as Sheikh Salman's chief backer is a gamble for the KFA, one of the major associations in Asia. Bin Hammam is not one to forget those who slight him and if he stays in power, it certainly won't help Korea's chances of hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

By John Duerden /Contributing writer