Japan’s Kozo Tashima looking to bring ‘integrity’ to Fifa

Kozo Tashima, a 68-year-old Japanese football enthusiast, is set to make history by becoming the first Japanese individual to run for the FIFA presidency. Tashima's decision to enter the race stems from a belief that the sport must maintain its integrity in an era dominated by business and money. Born in Kumamoto and captaining his team to victory in Japan's prestigious national high school championship, Tashima dedicated his life to football after being inspired by the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Tashima's football journey began with playing the sport, followed by coaching and administrative roles. He studied at the German Sport University Cologne, which he said significantly influenced his perspective on sport's purpose in society. Upon returning to Japan, Tashima used his German knowledge to help develop Japanese football, serving as a coach and eventually becoming the president of the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2016.

During his tenure as JFA president, Tashima faced challenges and made controversial decisions, such as dismissing Japan's coach Vahid Halilhodzic and addressing travel restrictions on Iran's World Cup team imposed by American authorities. Now, Tashima is poised to challenge incumbent FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the upcoming election, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport.