Chung Mong-joon accuses FIFA of disrupting efforts to appeal ban

Former FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon has taken yet another jab at the world football governing body, accusing it of interfering with his efforts to appeal his ban.FIFA's Ethics Committee "continues to deliberately sabotage my effort to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Chung said in his English blog entry titled, "FIFA, What Should be Done?"The CAS, an independent quasi-judicial body, is the highest tribunal in sports.On Oct. 8, FIFA banned Chung for six months "from all

Dec. 18, 2015

FIFA defers decision on 40-team World Cup starting in 2026

ZURICH (AP) -- The FIFA executive committee has deferred a decision on expanding the World Cup to 40 teams starting at the 2026 tournament.The German soccer federation says the FIFA administration will have further talks about the plan, which is supported by Asia and Africa. The idea to add eight teams was part of FIFA reform proposals being considered Thursday. The executive committee had the power to make it FIFA policy without approval of the 209 member federations.The 2026 bidding should sta

Dec. 3, 2015

Korea defeat Laos 5-0 for 6th straight win in World Cup qualification

South Korea defeated Laos 5-0 on the road Tuesday for their sixth straight win in the regional World Cup qualification round.Big guns came through for South Korea at New Laos National Stadium, as captain Ki Sung-yueng scored twice and set up another, while Tottenham Hotspurs' Son Heung-min also grabbed a brace.South Korea improved to a perfect 6-0-0 to stay atop Group G in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They have scored 23 goals and given up none.This wa

Nov. 18, 2015

Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol suspended for next World Cup qualifier

When South Korea try to extend their winning streak in the regional World Cup qualification against Laos next Tuesday, they will have to do so without midfielder Koo Ja-cheol.Koo has been ruled ineligible for the upcoming Group G match in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, after picking up his second yellow card in as many qualifiers against Myanmar Thursday. He will instead rejoin his Bundesliga club, FC Augsburg.Koo headed in South Korea's second goal in t

Nov. 13, 2015

Korea beat Myanmar 4-0 to remain undefeated in World Cup qualifying

South Korea beat Myanmar 4-0 on Thursday at home to remain undefeated in the current Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea scored two goals in each half, improving to a perfect 5-0-0 in Group G in the second round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. South Korea have netted 18 goals and given up none.Overall, South Korea haven't lost in their past 12 matches, dating back to March 27. Their only loss of the year came

Nov. 13, 2015

Korea looking to extend winning streak vs. Myanmar in World Cup qualifier

South Korea will look to extend their winning streak when they host underdog Myanmar in a World Cup qualifier this week.The 48th-ranked South Korea will face the 161st-ranked Myanmar at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at 8 p.m.Thursday. It will be South Korea's fifth match in Group G in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Coached by Uli Stielike, South Korea have won their first four matches over Myanmar, Laos, Lebanon and Kuwait, scoring

Nov. 10, 2015

Korea knocked out of U-17 World Cup

South Korea were knocked out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday following a 2-0 loss to Belgium.Jorn Vancamp and Matthias Verreth scored in each half for Belgium in the round of 16 showdown at Estadio La Portada in La Serena, Chile, as South Korea bowed out of the tournament despite winning their group with an undefeated record.Vancamp scored only 11 minutes into the match, capitalizing on sloppy passing by South Korea. After Lee Sang-min's free kick attempt was blocked, Belgium re

Oct. 29, 2015

British anti-fraud body probes World Cup bids

Britain's anti-fraud organization is probing potential money-laundering offences related to the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, its director told British lawmakers on Tuesday."There are outstanding matters which touch upon money-laundering," David Green from the Serious Fraud Office told the British government's Culture, Media and Sport select committee."There are a number of matters we are still looking at and digging into."The SFO cannot pursue scandal-plagued world governing body FI

Oct. 27, 2015

Chung Mong-joon withdraws from FIFA presidential race, vows to keep fighting

Veteran South Korean football administrator Chung Mong-joon on Monday withdrew his FIFA presidential candidacy, vowing to keep trying to bring changes to the organization marred by corruption allegations.Chung made his announcement on his blog, mjfairplay.com, which opened on Monday for both Korean and English-speaking audiences. Chung was slapped with a six-month ban on Oct. 8 by FIFA's Ethics Committee. Then last week, a Swiss court rejected Chung's petition to lift the ban temporarily so he c

Oct. 26, 2015

Court denies Chung Mong-joon's request to lift ban: FIFA

A Swiss court has rejected a request by South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon to lift a recent ban on him, the world's football governing body said Tuesday, all but ruling out Chung's chances of running in next year's election.Chung had tried to have his six-year ban lifted temporarily so that he could run in the Feb. 26 election to replace Sepp Blatter as head of the corruption-ridden body. FIFA said the Swiss court found no indication of a defective procedure when FIFA's Ethic

Oct. 21, 2015

Korea clinch knockout berth at U-17 World Cup

South Korea booked a knockout spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile on Tuesday.South Korea defeated Guinea 1-0 for their second straight victory in Group B at Estadio La Portada in La Serena, as Oh Se-hun scored the dramatic winner in the dying moments.South Korea have secured a spot in the round of 16, regardless of their result against England in their final group match Friday.This will be South Korea's first appearance in the round of 16 at the youth event since making the quarters in 2009

Oct. 21, 2015

S. Korea beat Kuwait for 4th straight win in World Cup qualification

South Korea defeated Kuwait 1-0 here Thursday for their fourth consecutive victory in the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, inching closer to their ninth straight appearance in the quadrennial tournament.Midfielder Koo Ja-cheol put South Korea on the board with a header in the 12th minute, and it was all South Korea needed in the hard-fought victory at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Kuwait City.Coached by Uli Stielike, the undefeated South Korea stayed atop Group G in the second

Oct. 9, 2015

FIFA bans Chung Mong-Joon for six years

Football's world governing body said Thursday it has banned South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong joon for six years, a move that could cast a pall on his campaign.    "The former FIFA Vice-President Chung Mong-joon has been banned for six years and fined" 100,000 Swiss francs (US$103,000), FIFA said in an announcement on its website.    It also said Chung is "banned from all football activities on a national and international level."    Chung is under scrutiny for writing to FIFA ex

Oct. 8, 2015

FIFA prez candidate Chung Mong-joon claims to be target of smear campaign

South Korean FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon said Tuesday the world football governing body has launched a smear campaign against him, saying the situation doesn't surprise him."I have become a target of the attack because I am taking aim at the heart of FIFA," Chung said at a press conference in Seoul."FIFA's Ethics Committee only goes after people who challenge its president, Sepp Blatter. People say the committee is a contract killer for Blatter."Chung made the comments in respons

Oct. 6, 2015

Korea coach staring down 'most important' World Cup qualifier to date

South Korea's upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait will be the team's most important one to date, its head coach said Monday.Uli Stielike's South Korea headed to Kuwait on Monday for a key World Cup qualifying match later this week, hoping to stay undefeated in the regional qualification tournament.The showdown in Kuwait City on Thursday will be South Korea's fourth match in Group G in the second round of the Asian qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The kickoff will be 5:55 p.

Oct. 5, 2015

Son Heung-min unlikely to play for S. Korea in World Cup qualifier

Tottenham Hotspurs forward Son Heung-min is unlikely to play for South Korea in an upcoming World Cup qualifier after sustaining a foot injury last weekend, the Premier League club said Wednesday (local time).On their website, the Spurs said Son suffered the injury in a league match against Manchester City, and will miss the club's next match, against AS Monaco in the Europa League on Thursday (local time).The club noted that Son, who joined the London side in August, "has spent the past few day

Oct. 1, 2015

FIFA candidate Chung Mong-joon calls for talks on forming emergency task force

South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon has called for talks on forming an emergency task force to ensure smooth operation at the world football governing body marred by corruption allegations.In a statement released Tuesday, Chung said FIFA is facing "an unprecedented crisis," after the Swiss Attorney General's Office announced last week that FIFA President Sepp Blatter is under criminal investigation. UEFA President Michel Platini, considered the main rival to Chung in the presi

Sept. 30, 2015

Chung Mong-joon renews call for 'fair' FIFA election

South Korean FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon  Friday renewed his call for a fair election for the world's top football job, saying the sport's international governing body should step up its efforts to ensure transparent campaigns.Last week, Chung held a press conference in Seoul to accuse the Asian Football Confederation of violating rules to openly back his rival candidate, UEFA President Michel Platini. Chung provided a copy of form letters that he said the AFC had sent to its mem

Sept. 11, 2015