Former Spurs defender Vega to stand for FIFA presidency

Paris: Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham defender and Swiss centre-back, has declared his intention to run for FIFA's presidency in 2025, becoming the first candidate to officially announce his bid. At 55 years old, Vega has been involved in finance since retiring from football in 2004. He had previously considered challenging FIFA's current president, Gianni Infantino, following the resignation of Sepp Blatter in 2015 due to a corruption scandal.

Vega's campaign announcement reveals that FIFA's member associations are now more receptive to change compared to his previous attempts in 2015 and 2022. According to Vega, he is running because his life experiences have prepared him to serve football, emphasizing his duty and social responsibility to protect and defend the game's integrity, people, and future.

The Swiss Football Association recently withdrew its support for Infantino, citing concerns over his transparency, accountability, and institutional responsibility. Vega's dossier highlights the need to rebuild FIFA's credibility and reunite the global football community. To become a candidate, Vega must secure the backing of at least five out of FIFA's 211 member federations and be proposed by one of those.

Additionally, he must have been involved in football for two of the previous five years and pass an eligibility review. The deadline for potential candidates to meet these criteria is November 18, 2024.