Tashima announces bid to challenge Infantino for FIFA presidency

Kohzo Tashima, a long-serving member of FIFA’s council, has announced his intention to run for the position of FIFA president against incumbent Gianni Infantino. Japanese media outlets reported the news on Thursday following a meeting of the Japan Football Association. Tashima, who has served as a colleague to Infantino for nearly 11 years, aims to enter the race before the November 18 deadline for candidates to register.

The move comes as Infantino faces mounting pressure during an 11-year tenure marked by recent controversies. In July, the FIFA leader proposed selling stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors, a multibillion-dollar plan that triggered a backlash from soccer leaders in Europe, Asia, and North America. The proposal was withdrawn within days of the announcement. Infantino and the organization also faced scrutiny regarding disciplinary decisions in World Cup matches involving players Cristiano Ronaldo, Folarin Balogun, and Lionel Mpasi.

Tashima, 68, is a former Japanese midfielder and the current president of the Japan Football Association. He has served on FIFA’s ruling committee since 2015, when Sepp Blatter held the presidency. Sports newspaper Sponichi Annex reported that Tashima stated, “It’s not win or lose, but we must show the rest of the world the sincere, sound, and noble approach of the Japanese soccer.” Business newspaper Nikkei quoted him saying, “The worst thing that can happen is he (Infantino) is re-elected to the post without an election.”

The Japan Football Association board members unanimously agreed to support Tashima’s candidacy, according to the Asahi newspaper. This support marks a distinct position within Asian soccer politics. The Asian Football Confederation had criticized Infantino in August but switched to support him at a meeting in Tokyo two weeks ago. Last week, JFA Vice President Takeshi Okada, who coached Japan in the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, resigned citing the politics surrounding Infantino’s bid for support.

Tashima told Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, that he could not support Infantino after the recent Tokyo meeting. The Japanese soccer body has maintained influence in FIFA and AFC politics for 15 years, particularly as Gulf states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia have increased their presence in the region.

To run for the presidency, candidates must secure formal support from five of FIFA’s 211 member federations. They must also pass an eligibility review by a three-member panel appointed by FIFA. The election is scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. Infantino faces legal questions about seeking a fourth term, which would extend his leadership to 15 years. FIFA statutes generally limit presidents to three full terms and 12 years, though a 2022 legal opinion suggested Infantino’s initial 2016 to 2019 mandate completing Blatter’s term should not count toward that limit.

European soccer body UEFA has been working to identify a challenger for Infantino. It was not immediately clear if Tashima holds formal endorsement from UEFA, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the 2015 election, UEFA initially backed three candidates before two withdrew, leaving Prince Ali bin Al Hussain to run alone. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin compared Infantino to the emperor with no clothes in September, stating, “Football has no need for emperors.”

The Japan Football Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Tashima is viewed as a diplomatic and low-profile official in a field often characterized by complex political maneuvers. His entry into the race introduces the first serious rival to Infantino since the controversy over the profit-sharing plan emerged in July.