Japan Football Association honorary president Kozo Tashima has announced his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino in the race for the FIFA presidency.
The 68-year-old, a member of the FIFA Council and former international footballer and coach, says he wants to promote integrity and high moral standards while contributing to the future of the global game.
Tashima’s candidacy, backed by the Japan Football Association, presents a fresh challenge to Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president.
Infantino has faced scrutiny following the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to allow private investors to acquire stakes in the World Cup. The proposal was dropped at the end of July after attracting widespread opposition across football.
Despite the controversy, Infantino has maintained significant support, with the Asian Football Confederation fully endorsing his bid after a change of position by its president, Sheikh Salman.
Speaking to BBC Sport last month, Infantino said he believed he had the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football.
Tashima is not the first challenger to emerge ahead of next year’s election. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega announced his intention to contest the presidency in October.
The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to stand is November 18. However, all contenders must secure the backing of at least five FIFA member associations to qualify for the election.
Tashima’s entry into the race will test the strength of Infantino’s support as the contest for FIFA’s top position gathers momentum.
