FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon launched an extraordinary attack on AFC chief Mohamed bin Hammam Thursday, saying he had mental problems and needed hospital treatment.
The comments from the billionaire businessman and politician, who Bin Hammam claims is behind the campaign to unseat him, saw the ugly battle for power in Asian football plunge new depths.
“At the beginning of his term he was not like he is today. But he is now acting like the head of a very uncivilised organisation,” said Chung, the largest shareholder in the world’s biggest shipyard, Hyundai Heavy Industries.
“It looks like Mr Hammam is suffering from mental problems. I want to advise him to consider going to hospital.”
Chung, who repeated his assertion that Bin Hammam was “very sick” several times during a news conference, said the Asian Football Confederation was now riven by “hatred and mistrust”.
“I am here with a broken heart because I am deeply concerned by the current situation of Asian football under the presidency of Mr Hammam,” he said.
“Asian football is now suffering from a serious lack of transparency, democracy and rule of law. Any confederation can prosper only when its members are united in mutual trust and solidarity.
“Unfortunately, Asian football is now divided and full of mistrust and even hatred.”
Qatar’s Bin Hammam is being challenged for the FIFA executive committee seat he has held since 1996 by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, with a vote due at the AFC congress on Friday.
Bin Hammam has said he will step down as AFC president if he loses.
The Qatari has pointed to Chung as driving the campaign to unseat him, with speculation rife that if he is out of the way the door will open for the Korean to become the next FIFA president.
When asked by AFP if this was the case, Chung said there was no proof.
“Mr Hamman has said there is proof. During the executive committee meeting today I asked him where is your proof? He said he can show us the proof later. I hope he can keep his word.
“Mr Hammam says I am campaigning against him because I have an ambition to become FIFA president. That is very wrong.
“This is mud-slinging, dirty campaign tactics by Bin Hammam. He has tried to make me look like a man of greed but I am not a man of greed.
“It is Hammam who started a very aggressive campaign to become FIFA president. Actually, I’m a busy person in Korea. At the moment I don’t have the time to campaign like Bin Hammam to become FIFA president.”
The AFC said it had no comment.
