Kozo Tashima is under no illusions about the difficulty of unseating Gianni Infantino, but the honorary president of the Japan Football Association says his Tashima FIFA presidency bid will be driven by a “samurai spirit.” The 68-year-old, who also serves on the FIFA Council, is the first serious challenger to Infantino, who has led world football’s governing body for a decade.
Clearing the first hurdle
Before any head-to-head contest can take place, Tashima must secure the endorsement of five member associations. He said he has already received positive responses from some of those he has approached since declaring his intention to run in the March elections. “I have confidence,” he said when asked about reaching the threshold, adding that early feedback had been encouraging.
Should he clear that bar, the next task is far more daunting. Infantino told BBC Sport last month that he believed he had the support of the “vast, vast majority” of world football. Tashima acknowledged the scale of the challenge but said he is determined to bring what he called “good change” to the organisation.
Motivation behind the campaign
Tashima said he was driven by disappointment over two recent episodes involving Infantino. The first concerns the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, a matter in which US President Donald Trump called Infantino to ask for the ban to be reviewed. The second is the abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
On the Balogun incident, Tashima said he had never seen a red card and the following game’s availability handled in such a way and expressed hope it would never happen in world football. He criticised Infantino for not explaining how the situation came about, adding that most of the questions surrounding these matters remain unanswered by the FIFA president.
A philosophy rooted in governance
Tashima’s campaign will centre on his vision for the role, which he described as based on sincerity, soundness, fair play and integrity. He wants to review FIFA’s systems and rebuild good governance, arguing that football can model values such as fair play, co-operation, hard work and integrity in an uncertain world.
He pointed to more than 20 years of experience across the Japan Football Association, the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA as the foundation for the change he would like to deliver if elected. “I know [Infantino] has a lot of supporters,” Tashima said. “Now I am alone and my budget is not enough but it is OK.” He added that he would fight with his philosophy and his samurai spirit.
Another candidate enters the frame
Tashima is not the only person seeking the presidency. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega announced last month that he intends to stand in next year’s election. Vega told BBC Sport he had received more than five endorsements but declined to identify the member associations backing him.
All candidates must demonstrate they have played an active role in football for two of the last five years. Vega, a shareholder of a club, has said he is confident he is eligible. He has attempted to run for the presidency three times before, each time failing to gather the necessary support of five associations.
That history is why Tashima is regarded as the first serious challenger to Infantino. The election is scheduled to take place in Morocco in March. Asked whether he realistically hopes to win, Tashima laughed before replying that he does hope to win, while conceding it will not be easy.
