Chung Mong-Joon announces bid to run for FIFA president

Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon of South Korea attends a news conference to formally launch his bid to become president of world soccer's governing body in Paris, France, Aug 17, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Chung Mong-Joon says he will run for FIFA president, pledging to help the governing body clean itself up if he gets elected.

Speaking at a news conference in Paris on Monday, the South Korea says "it is my privilege and honor to announce my candidacy," before quickly turning his sights on long-serving president Sepp Blatter.

After 17 years as FIFA president, Blatter said on June 2 he was standing down, under pressure from American and Swiss federal investigations of widespread corruption implicating senior FIFA officials.

Chung, a FIFA honorary vice president, promised to be a "crisis manager and a reformer" should he win the election on Feb. 26.

UEFA President Michel Platini has already declared his candidacy and is widely favored to replace Blatter.