The race for the FIFA presidency has gained a new contender. Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, has announced his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino in the elections scheduled for March. His candidacy represents a new development in the political landscape of international football, particularly because of his ties to several European federations and the backing he is believed to have received from UEFA.
The Japanese executive is the second candidate to officially announce his intention to participate in the election, following former footballer Ramón Vega. However, the latter’s candidacy remains uncertain, as he needs the support of at least five of FIFA’s 211 member associations to meet the registration requirements. Tashima, on the other hand, is expected to have little difficulty securing the necessary nominations given his experience and reputation within Asian football.
UEFA’s backing and Tashima’s proposal
Tashima’s candidacy appears to be linked to the efforts UEFA has made in recent months to find an alternative to Infantino. According to reports, the Japanese executive made his decision with the approval of the European governing body, which has maintained a critical stance towards FIFA’s current president. One of the main points of contention was the organization’s attempt to sell a 20% stake in its commercial rights, a proposal that was eventually abandoned following widespread criticism. In addition, Tashima has several allies in Europe and held talks with UEFA officials during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress, held in Tokyo last month.
Explaining his motivations, the executive emphasized that his candidacy seeks to represent certain values in the administration of world football. “It is not about winning or losing, but about conveying to the world the honest, sincere and upright attitude that Japanese football has built. What FIFA needs now are the values we have upheld,” he told Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon. His statements aim to put forward a proposal centered on transparency and institutional integrity, in an electoral process marked by disagreements between different confederations and debate over FIFA’s leadership.
Infantino faces a new political landscape at FIFA
Tashima’s emergence also introduces an element of uncertainty within the Asian Football Confederation. His candidacy comes after AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa publicly expressed his support for Infantino at the organization’s latest congress, reversing the position he had previously maintained alongside UEFA and Concacaf. The Japanese executive’s participation could divide the preferences of Asian federations, particularly given his relationships with different sectors of international football and his potential to attract support from Europe and North America.
Despite this new challenge, Infantino remains in a favorable position heading into the election. The current president has the backing of major Asian federations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as support from Africa and South America. To secure re-election, he needs to obtain 106 votes, a figure he is currently expected to reach. UEFA, meanwhile, has spent months searching for a candidate capable of challenging the Swiss executive and may have concluded that a contender from outside Europe would have a better chance of securing support, amid criticism over the concentration of power within the leadership of world football.
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