FIFA says Swiss court rules against lifting ban on ex-soccer official

ZURICH (Reuters) –

Chung Mong-Joon had sought to have his ban temporarily lifted so he could campaign to be the organization’s president in a vote in February, FIFA said in a statement.

Zurich-based FIFA said the court ruled that there was no indication of a defective procedure on the part of the soccer body’s ethics committee in banning the South Korean.

Earlier this month, Chung had described the ban as a “shameful attempt” to punish his open criticism of FIFA, which is mired in the worst corruption scandal in its 111-year history.

FIFA said it was pleased with the court’s decision. Chung can still appeal.

(Reporting by John Miller)