Chances are high that the 55th Korea Football Association (KFA) presidential election to be held in January next year will be held through competition. While current chairman Chung Mong-gyu (62) is highly likely to run for the fourth term, former national team coach Huh Jung-moo (69) has newly announced his intention to run for the election. If multiple candidates including Chung run for the election, the KFA presidential election will be held through competition instead of being the sole candidate for the first time in 12 years.
“I decided (to run for president of KFA) after much consideration as I thought it was necessary to represent the voices of soccer players,” Huh Jung-moo, former coach of the team, told this newspaper in a recent telephone interview. “I am thinking hard to develop Korean soccer and to create a climate where I can get closer to advanced soccer,” Huh said. “I will explain as far as I can through a press conference on the background of the candidacy as I can.” Huh was originally scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday, but postponed it to Saturday due to issues such as recruiting venues.
Although it has not been officially announced yet, a new candidate has emerged at a time when current chairman Chung Mong-gyu’s bid for a fourth term is a given. In the meantime, the prevailing view was that there was no candidate who could run in the election despite the criticism surrounding Chairman Chung’s future, but former head coach Huh Jung-moo was the first to express his intention to run as Chung’s “great horse.”
Former head coach Huh Jung-moo had a history of serving as vice chairman of the KFA for the first year of Chung Mong-gyu, and some critics say that he is older than Chung (born in 1962). This is because many fans expected a young and innovative candidate who would lead the major reform of the KFA. However, many say that it is meaningful that another candidate other than Chairman Chung Mong-gyu has appeared.
After former coach Huh Jung-moo announced his candidacy, Chung Mong-gyu is likely to make his bid for the fourth term official soon. Despite strong criticism, Chung is likely to seek the fourth term. In order for Chung to seek the fourth term, he must undergo deliberation by the Sports and Fair Committee of the Sports Council in accordance with the regulations of the Korean Sports and Fair Committee. The deadline for submitting the review agenda and the deadline for Chung to inform the KFA of the candidate registration are both February 2.
If Chairman Chung expresses his intention to run after former head coach Huh Jung-moo, the KFA presidential election will be contested by multiple candidates for the first time in 12 years. The composition is different from the last two elections in which Chairman Chung Mong-gyu ran alone.
Earlier, Chairman Chung Mong-kyu competed with three other people during the 52nd presidential election in 2013, including People Works Chairman Huh Seung-pyo, former secondary federation chairman Kim Seok-han, and then Saenuri Party member Yoon Sang-hyun. Although he was defeated by Chairman Huh in the first round, he was elected chairman with 15 votes out of 24 delegates in the final (second round). Since then, he has run alone in the 53rd and 54th presidential elections and succeeded in re-election and third terms without competition.
In addition, if other candidates other than former head coach Huh Jung-moo and chairman Chung declare their challenge, the KFA’s next presidential election will be more competitive. With former head coach Huh Jung-moo at the center of attention, attention is being paid to other people’s movements. 카지노사이트
The election of the 55th KFA president will be organized by the 12th of next month, and voting will take place on January 8 next year after a three-day candidate registration period from the 25th. The electors will consist of about 200 soccer players, including KFA delegates, executives of affiliated organizations, and leaders, players and referees.