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KFA chief Chung lined up for AFC election as anger mounts at home

Published: 15 Feb. 2024, 17:44

JIM BULLEY
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Korea Football Association Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, center, watches the Korean national team's training at Al Egla Training Facility in Doha, Qata on Feb. 4. [NEWS1]

KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu was named as the sole “East Zone” candidate for election to the AFC Executive Committee on Thursday, an hour after the KFA National Team Committee recommended Korea manager Jurgen Klinsmann be fired amid growing calls for Chung to be removed as head of the association.

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the final list of candidates who will stand for election to the AFC Executive Committee (remaining term 2023-2027) at the 34th AFC Congress in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2024,” the AFC said in a statement emailed to reporters on Thursday afternoon.

Chung was listed as the sole candidate for “AFC Executive Committee Member (East Zone),” alongside Mijgona Mahmadalieva of Tajikistan for “AFC Female Executive Committee Member (Central Zone).”

The Executive Committee is responsible for “all tasks related to the organization, conduct and supervision of the elections,” according to the statement.

Back home, Chung now has to make the final decision on the future of Klinsmann, who the KFA National Team Committee said should be removed after a lengthy meeting on Thursday.

A controversial figure in Korean football, Chung has been widely blamed for the appointment of Klinsmann — who led Korea to a disappointing semifinal exit at the Asian Cup last week — and is currently being sued by a non-profit accusing him of overstepping his authority in making hiring decisions for the national team.

It's far from Chung's first dance with the flames. The KFA Chair previously faced a backlash for making questionable calls, including pardoning 100 people banned from Korean football for various infractions such as match-fixing — which he later reversed.

With Klinsmann now facing the axe — assuming Chung follows his own committee’s recommendation — the focus is now likely to shift back to Chung, who is facing mounting calls to resign and protesters picketing the KFA headquarters in central Seoul.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]