Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Asian football's highest individual accolade - the Diamond of Asia - has been awarded to former Korea Football Association President and FIFA Vice-President Dr. Chung Mong-joon.
Dr. Chung was presented his award jointly by AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and FIFA President Joseph Blatter.
An influential figure in the growth and development of Asian football over a long a distinguished career, one of the highlights of Dr. Chung’s many contributions to the game in the continent is unquestionably playing a key role in bringing the coveted FIFA World Cup to Asia for the first time in 2002.
Known and respected for his philanthropism as well as his skills as a football administrator, Dr. Chung donated US $400,000 for rebuilding football infrastructure following devastating floods in Pakistan in 2010 and provided financial help of US$200,000 to the PSSI (Indonesian Football Association) to assist in relief efforts after earthquake and tsunami the same year.
Dr. Chung was elected as the President of the Korea Football Association in 1993 and was re-elected as the KFA Chief four times until 2008. He was appointed Honorary President of the KFA in 2009. He was elected as the FIFA Vice-President in 1994 and was returned to this position four times.
Dr. Chung is the ninth recipient of the elite accolade after Saburo Kawabuchi (2005), Joseph S Blatter (2006), Lennart Johannson (2007), Ken Naganuma (posthumously; 2008), General Farouk Bouzo (2009), Dato' Seri NajibTun Razak (2010), HM Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (2011), Tan Sri Hamzah Haji Abu Samah (posthumously; 2012).