Chung Mong-joon was a FIFA vice president for 17 years. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

SEOUL, South Korea -- FIFA presidential contender Chung Mong-joon said on Tuesday he is facing a 19-year suspension by the ethics committee of the world football body for alleged ethics breaches surrounding South Korea's failed bid for the 2022 World Cup, and also for openly criticising the committee.

The South Korean billionaire denied any wrongdoing and accused the committee of acting as a "hit man" of current FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who Chung says is attempting to damage his candidacy.

"The true danger is that they won't stop at sabotaging only my candidacy but also destructing FIFA's presidential election and FIFA itself," the former FIFA vice president said in a news conference in Seoul.