Japan’s Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency

The Japan Football Association honorary president, Kozo Tashima, has announced his intention to contest Gianni Infantino's candidacy for the upcoming Fifa presidency. The 68-year-old is a member of the Fifa Council and a former football player and coach. Tashima aims to communicate "integrity, soundness, and high moral standards" and to contribute towards a brighter future for football.

Infantino has faced intense scrutiny following allegations he intended to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors, a proposal that was ultimately abandoned due to widespread criticism from the football community. The deadline for candidates to participate in the election is November 18th. Although support for Infantino suffered significantly as a result of the FFE controversy, he has managed to bolster his backing in recent months.

Infantino recently claimed he has the support of "the vast, vast majority" of world football and is seeking a fourth term as Fifa president. He revealed this after receiving the full endorsement of the Asian Football Confederation, following a reversal by its president, Sheikh Salman. In October, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega was the first to declare his candidacy for the 2023 Fifa presidential election.

Tashima's entry as a challenger, backed by the Japan Football Association (JFA), will now put pressure on Infantino's supporter base. To qualify as a candidate, Tashima must secure the backing of five Fifa member associations. In his announcement, Tashima emphasized the importance of clearly conveying Japanese football's long-standing principles of integrity, soundness, and high moral standards.

He expressed his determination to take on the challenge, leveraging his accumulated experience and contributing to the advancement of global football. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the JFA, stated that this decision represents a significant challenge aimed at utilizing the accumulated experience and knowledge to further develop world football, while also showcasing Japanese football's cherished ideals and attitudes to the world.