Japan's Tashima to Stand Against Infantino for FIFA Presidency

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), will stand against current president Gianni Infantino in FIFA's presidential election in March. He announced his candidacy in a statement on Thursday.

Tashima is the second person to declare that he will challenge Infantino, following former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega.

The 68-year-old Tashima has previously served on the FIFA Council. He was president of the JFA from 2016 to 2024.

In his statement, Tashima said he had decided to declare his candidacy in the FIFA presidential election with the full support of the JFA.

He said he believed it was important that the sincerity, integrity and high ethical standards that Japanese football has long valued and built up are clearly communicated to the global football community.

Tashima added that he had decided to run in the FIFA presidential election in order to share those principles with the world and contribute to a better future for football.

Drawing on the experience he has gained over the years, he said he would take on the challenge with firm resolve so that he could contribute to the further development of world football.

The deadline for candidates to declare for the election is November 18.

Incumbent Infantino, meanwhile, is seeking re-election to a fourth and final term as FIFA president. He had faced stinging criticism and calls to quit after his aborted World Cup selloff plan.

However, Infantino is now in a strong position to secure re-election after the Asian Football Confederation endorsed the 56-year-old last month, the report said.

Infantino earlier said he had the backing of the 'vast, vast majority' of member associations, and dismissed calls for him to go.