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

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.

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

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

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

South Korea has tasked red-hot striker Suk Hyun-jun with carrying the offense against Laos in Thursday's World Cup qualifier at home.   Suk, a 24-year-old forward making his first international appearance in five years, will start as the featured striker, as the 57th-ranked South Korea take on the No. 174 Laos at Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.   Suk, who plays for Vitoria de Setubal in Portugal, has scored three goals in his last two club matches. He is look

On the eve of his team's World Cup qualifying match against Laos, South Korea head coach Uli Stielike said Wednesday he hopes to see efficient offense.The 54th-ranked South Korea will take on the 177th-ranked Laos at 8 p.m. Thursday at Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium. South Korea have won all three meetings against Laos so far.Stielike predicted that Laos, as the underdog, will try to sit back and play a tight defense on the South Koreans. He called on his players to use their smarts to bre

Son Heung-min has signed with Tottenham Hotspur, the English Premier League club announced Friday, making him the 13th South Korean to play in the competition.Tottenham snatched the 23-year-old wing forward from Germany-based Bayer Leverkusen and signed him through 2020. The financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, though the transfer fee is reportedly around 30 million euros (US$33.8 million).Tottenham added that the deal is subject to work permit and international clearance,

Veteran South Korean football administrator Chung Mong-joon announced Monday he will stand for the FIFA presidency, saying it's "time to restore common sense" at the sport's international governing body mired in corruption allegations.Chung, formerly a FIFA vice president, launched his bid for the top job in world football at a press conference in the French capital, where FIFA was founded in 1904.Chung had previously told the South Korean media that he would run for FIFA president, but this was

South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi has been named the best netminder of the 2015 Women's East Asian Cup football tournament.The regional competition wrapped up late Saturday with North Korea on top for the second consecutive edition, thanks to a 2-0 victory over South Korea at Wuhan Sports Center Stadium in China.Japan defeated China 2-0 to earn its first victory of the competition. China closed out with three losses.Kim, a 30-year-old veteran, blanked China 1-0 and made key saves in a 2-1 win

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng of Swansea City injured his hamstring in the club's Premier League season opener against Chelsea, though his coach expects to have him back in the fold in the next match.Ki left the game in the 41st minute after he went down with pain in his right hamstring and was replaced by Jack Cork. Ki walked off the pitch on his own, and head coach Garry Monk told local media that the South Korean should be ready to face Newcastle United next weekend.Swansea City held

South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon said Thursday he will announce his candidacy in Paris later this month.He told a press conference in Seoul that he will officially join the race on Aug. 17 in the French capital. He will first travel to Georgia on Aug. 12 for UEFA Super Cup, where he will hold talks with key European football officials, and make stops through some European cities before arriving in Paris."FIFA was founded in Paris (in 1904) and it's a transportation hub," sa