FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed comments by Chung Mong-joon, a candidate to take over soccer’s world body calling it a corrupt organization.

    Blatter said he was disturbed by the South Korean industrialist’s outspoken comments at a press conference in Paris on Monday where he officially launched his candidacy.

    Chung went on the attack against Blatter and UEFA leader Michel Platini, his rival in the FIFA race. “The real reason FIFA has become such a corrupt organization is because the same person [Blatter] has been running it for 40 years. Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Chung said.

    “It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear Dr. Chung Mong-joon describe FIFA as ‘a corrupt organization,’” Blatter said in reply.

    “Even more so when one recalls — and as Dr. Chung cannot have forgotten — that he was a FIFA vice president and a FIFA Emergency Committee member for 17 years from 1994 up until 2011.”

    Blatter said in the statement that “personal attacks” made by Chung at the press conference were “particularly disrespectful to all concerned.”

    “I would like to stress again that FIFA is dedicated to improving the organization and will continue to strengthen its governance and accountability. Our work in this area continuously evolves, and we are focused on achieving the highest standards for the international football community,” he said.

    (SD-Agencies)