Dutchman challenges Blatter for top FIFA job

By Nam Hyun-woo

Michael van Praag, president of the Royal Netherlands Football Association, said he will support a unified South and North Korea football team competing at a World Cup.
“Football is for everyone. That’s my campaign and if I’m elected and the two countries wish to do so, it will be my task to do my best for what the members want to do,” van Pragg, who is running for the presidency of FIFA against incumbent Sepp Blatter, said during an interview with The Korea Times.
“The whole world knows about the two Koreas and how difficult it is that the two countries are separated. So if both countries wish to get closer, football can help in doing that. I will be open to every proposal from South and North Korea,” he stressed.
“Of course you have to talk to the Asian Football Confederation and there are many FIFA rules, but my job is not to say no, but to ask how you want to do it, what are the complications, what do we have to overcome and what regulations do we have to change.”
He arrived in Korea yesterday as part of his campaign ahead of the May 29 election for the top job in FIFA. He met Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu in a bid to win his support. Chung failed to gain a seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee during the Asian Football Confederation Congress on April 30, a decision which van Praag called “scandalous.”
The Korean chief ran for election in an attempt to restore Korean representation on the 25-member committee for the first time since 2011. Moments before the voting session, Guam proposed an amendment unfavorable toward Chung and he demanded to make a statement, but this was ignored.
“A big scandal. A congress is there to be democratic and give everyone opportunities to speak about something. Of course if a member wishes to speak, you let him have the floor. So it was very, very unpleasant and humiliating experience that he didn’t deserve,” van Praag said.
He said the process of “decisions made behind closed doors,” is what he wants to change and the reason why he is challenging Blatter’s bid for an unprecedented fifth term.
“I’m very annoyed about the way FIFA is operating,” said van Praag. “Stories of corruption and mishandling of funds are what we see and hear about FIFA. In my part of the world, and also many other parts of the world, people have really started to dislike FIFA, and Mr. Blatter is fully responsible for that as the executive president.
“Every congress I attend, Mr. Blatter says ‘Today I don’t want to speak about money.’ That’s what he always says. And at the same time, I hear from confederations they need money and assistance for educating cultures, referees and setting up competitions.”
One of Blatter’s deeds he lashed out at was FIFA’s $27 million-sponsorship for a movie, “United Passions,” which critics say describes Blatter as a hero.
“That is money that belongs to the Korean, Chinese, Dutch football federations and everybody in the world. If you divide 27 million by 209 member countries, that means that every country has contributed $129,000. That is money that can be used for football development.”
Among his pledges, he wants to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup to 40 by giving one extra ticket to every confederation. He also said that he will set up FIFA embassies in different regions comprised of local employees, so that each federation does not have to come to Zurich, where FIFA is headquartered.
Van Praag announced his bid belatedly in January this year. Given the time he has, pundits say chances for him are slim and he also admits that the clock is not on his side.
“I only have three months, which means it is impossible to visit all countries,” van Praag said. He explained that he has been talking to as many presidents of football associations in the world as possible at congresses and paying visits to some selective countries, including South Korea.
“My football federation has a good relationship with the Korean counterparts for many years and we try to exchange information whenever possible. So being here is not only to pay a courtesy visit to Mr. Chung but also to listen to how he looks at FIFA and what he wants from it,” adding that South Korea has a capacity to hold another World Cup and it will help Korea’s economy as well. South Korea failed in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Van Praag, who said he will not run for a second term if he is elected, will face Blatter, AFC Vice President Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and former Portugal international Luis Figo at the FIFA presidential election in Zurich, May 29.