South Korean FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon pauses to answer questions during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chung accused the Asian Football Confederation of breaking rules by lobbying for rival candidate Michel Platini in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. Chung said that the AFC has been sending letters to officials of member federations urging them to vote for the Frenchman on Feb. 26. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
SEOUL, South Korea — FIFA presidential contender Chung Mong-joon has criticized election monitors who cleared the Asian Football Confederation of improperly supporting Michel Platini.
The former FIFA vice president from South Korea says the FIFA-appointed committee investigated for only three days and forfeited its “duty to ensure the fairness of the election.”
He filed a complaint after the AFC sent members a template letter soliciting support for Platini, the UEFA president.
Asian leaders publicly support Platini despite two home contenders: Chung and former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.
Chung, who reportedly faces a FIFA ethics case for charitable donations to member federations, says the FIFA panel told him it found “no indications of the integrity of the electoral process having been affected.”
The FIFA election panel will approve candidates in November after integrity checks.