Ramon Vega, the first confirmed opponent for FIFA presidency bids

Update

Ramon Vega, Infantino's first confirmed opponent for the FIFA presidency

Former Swiss international footballer Ramon Vega has become the first person to officially announce his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, aiming to challenge the current officeholder, Gianni Infantino. The announcement was made public through social media. ^[4]

Vega’s decision to enter the election race was formalized through an extended twelve-page document distributed across his social media platforms. Through this step, he is formalizing his intention to take over the leadership of the international organization. ^[4]

In his message, Ramon Vega explained his motivations, emphasizing that he is not attracted to the position of leadership for personal gain or privileges, but rather believes his experience has prepared him to serve the sport. He describes the candidacy as being motivated by responsibility, conviction, and a deep love for the game, declaring that he assumes the role to put an end to what he calls the “war” in football and promote reconciliation. ^[4]

The FIFA presidential elections will take place at the Congress to be held on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. The deadline for other individuals to submit their candidacies for this position is set for November 18, 2026. ^[4]

At 55 years old, Ramon Vega was a Swiss international with 23 caps, having a professional career that included stints at clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic Glasgow, and Créteil. He is not a newcomer in attempts to lead FIFA; he previously tried to submit his candidacy for the presidency in 2015, 2019, and 2022, but did not carry the processes through to completion in those previous editions. ^[4]

On the other hand, Gianni Infantino, who has held the office of president since 2016, has a consolidated position thanks to the support of confederations from South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. However, the European confederation, UEFA, stated that it has lost trust in his current leadership after he launched (and later abandoned) a project to establish a privately held company to manage FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. UEFA intends to identify an alternative candidate, but up to two weeks before the November 18 deadline, the name of the single confirmed candidate remained Ramon Vega. ^[4]

Update

Ramon Vega, the first confirmed opponent for FIFA presidency bids

Former Swiss international footballer Ramon Vega has become the first person to officially announce his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, aiming to challenge the current officeholder, Gianni Infantino. The announcement was made public through social media, specifically a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), where Vega asks members of Football Associations to express support for his candidacy. ^[3]

The old image of Infantino, associated with the 2016 elections, was marked by the moment when celebrating success translated into buying beer for journalists in a pub in Cardiff, Wales. This 'approachable man' posture contrasts with the current image of the FIFA president, which has become one of absolute power in world football, ten years after his first election. ^[3]

Infantino earns six million dollars a year and has direct links with the most influential world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. ^[3]

The lawyer with dual citizenship (Swiss and Italian) benefits from an airplane made available by the Qatari government for official travel. Recently, upon his return to Cardiff for the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), Infantino stayed at Hensol Castle, a luxury 17th-century building, reinforcing the image of a president who has become a true 'emperor of football' at the age of 56. ^[3]

Since his first term in 2016, Gianni Infantino has been re-elected twice, in 2019 and 2023, each time without an opponent. Although he announced his intention to run again in 2027, there are expectations that he will retain the position without facing significant opposition, given the current state of the competition. ^[3]

L'Équipe mentioned a few days ago that three names had been circulating so far among potential opponents of Infantino, including that of Răzvan Burleanu, president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF). ^[3]

Ramon Vega’s announcement post included messages in English and French, addressed directly to fans and football structures, emphasizing the need for new values: “Football belongs to the people, not to those who control it.” He invokes “zero tolerance” toward leadership considered offensive to the passion of fans and the integrity of the sport. ^[3]

Vega launched an appeal to member associations, players, coaches, referees, and supporters worldwide, inviting them to read and critique his ideas, marking a symbolic moment of transition in global football management. ^[3]

Update

Kozo Tashima, the second official candidate challenging Infantino’s FIFA presidency

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA) and former Japanese international aged 68, has become the second candidate to officially announce his intention to face Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential elections scheduled for March 18, 2027. Tashima, a member of the FIFA Council since 2015, is seen as a diplomatic and discreet figure in football politics, wishing to promote “the honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards that Japanese football has cultivated for a long time.” He stated: “It is not about winning or losing, but about communicating to the world the honesty and seriousness we have built.” The announcement was confirmed by Japanese media, including Nikkei and Sponichi Annex, following a JFA meeting that unanimously approved the candidacy. JFA support is essential, as candidates must obtain formal approval from at least five of the 211 FIFA member associations. ^{[11] [9] [7] [6] [5]}

Tashima represents the first serious challenge to Infantino since summer, when the president withdrew a controversial plan to sell stakes in future World Cup revenues to private investors. Tashima’s criticism targeted exactly this decision: “The worst thing that could happen is to be re-elected to the post without elections.” The Asian political context is turbulent: AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa recently promised Infantino “unconditional support,” but two weeks later, Tashima told him that he could no longer support him. Additionally, JFA Vice President Takeshi Okada resigned last week, citing policies related to Infantino’s attempts to consolidate support. The deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18, 2026. Candidates, including Tashima, must pass an eligibility verification by a panel appointed by FIFA. Infantino is seeking a fourth term, which would allow him to remain in leadership until 2031, although FIFA statutes limit presidents to three full terms and 12 years in office—a condition that FIFA lawyers interpret as possible due to the incomplete term of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. Kozo Tashima’s profile is based on a reputation as a “respected, diplomatic, and low-profile official” in the often murky world of football politics, contrasting with the “emperor” image adopted by Infantino, who earns $6 million a year and has close ties with leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Mohammed bin Salman, and Donald Trump. ^{[11] [7] [6]}

Tashima is not the only candidate in the race; he joins Ramon Vega (55, former player at Tottenham and Celtic), who launched his campaign on November 4 with a message promising “zero tolerance” toward leadership that would have “insulted the dignity and integrity” of fans and pledged to end a perceived “war” in football. Although Ramon Vega previously ran and failed to mobilize the necessary support, the current configuration appears to favor a competitive race. UEFA has stated that it has lost trust in Infantino and is actively seeking an alternative candidate. Former star player Luis Figo, now adviser to UEFA President Alexander Čeferin, recently compared Infantino to the fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” stating: “Football does not need emperors.” The legitimacy crisis in FIFA’s leadership is accentuated by controversies surrounding disciplinary decisions in World Cup matches, which affected players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Folarin Balogun, and Lionel Mpasi. In this climate, Infantino’s traditional allies from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America remain stabilizers, but pressure for change or for a competition of ideas is higher than ever. ^[11]

Source Associated Press, with contributions from Tokyo, reported that international tensions within FIFA leadership have increased significantly. The international reaction to Tashima’s candidacy is one of the last signs of electoral uncertainty before the November 18 deadline. Hespress French distributed on the X platform the news confirming that Japan will be represented in the race by Kozo Tashima. See more details about the Japanese candidate on Hespress’s official website at: hespress.com/495257-fifa-le-japonais-kohzo-tashima-candidat-a-la-presidence-face-a-gianni-infantino.html. Hespress French’s official post on X confirmed public access to the detailed article about FIFA candidates. ^{[11] [10]}

He wishes to promote “the honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards that Japanese football has cultivated for a long time.” He stated: “It is not about winning or losing, but about communicating to the world the honesty and seriousness we have built.” Kozo Tashima, former goalkeeper for the Japan National Team and honorary president of the JFA, enters the fight for FIFA leadership, marking a critical moment in Gianni Infantino’s career. Tashima, 68 years old, will be the first serious candidate since the beginning of the year and was elected by the JFA federal council unanimously, saying that he wants to “apply Japanese values.” He promoted the idea that he would be the only one without the financial and political baggage that former presidents carried, along with the political branch of the Federation of Japan. FIFA now has two external rivals to Infantino, including the second Japanese opponent, and Tashima must seek support from four other federations to register. ^{[9] [8]}

According to Sky source, the JFA offered its unanimous support to Tashima, who hopes to become capable of offering a new direction in FIFA. Infantino seeks the support of the Asian and African communities, with whom he has maintained close relationships. AFC President al-Khalifa recently expressed his support for Infantino. The process by which Tashima will have a chance to maintain his candidacy will require approval from four other federations. AFC Chief al-Khalifa was at the center of recent discussions with Tashima, who informed AFC that he could no longer offer support to Infantino. Sky Sport and dpa sources reported this strategic aspect, suggesting that Japan could become a pivot of local opposition. Info Sky Sport for next important news. ^[8]

Tashima is seen as a diplomatic and discreet figure in football politics, wishing to promote “the honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards that Japanese football has cultivated for a long time.” He stated: “It is not about winning or losing, but about communicating to the world the honesty and seriousness we have built.” ^{[7] [6]}

Infantino recently launched a plan to sell stakes in future World Cup editions to private investors but was criticized by FIFA and subsequently abandoned it. Asahi source indicated that Tashima expressed his intentions as early as Monday, saying he will ask FIFA members for their votes. Tashima promoted the idea that he will offer “honesty and integrity” in FIFA. The JFA responded with a statement saying that Tashima has the full support of this federation, which is vital for the candidacy. Tashima played an important role in global politics for over 15 years, having a constant role in Asian politics. An internal crisis of alliances occurred in the AFC, but Tashima disagreed with voting for Infantino. Okada, the JFA vice-president, recently resigned, invoking Infantino’s policies related to bringing in support. Before the AFC meeting, Tashima announced that he no longer agrees with Infantino. ^{[7] [6]}

Tashima is an expert in international policies and promoted “honesty and integrity.” Tashima has a solid reputation in international football and is a figure of resonance in global politics. He is considered modest, diplomatic, and does not have a reputation for corruption, unlike other leaders. He must obtain the support of at least four other federations, besides the JFA, to be able to run. Candidates must go through a verification process. Infantino is seeking a fourth term and will face serious criticism from UEFA and other federations. UEFA is the most aggressive grouping in opposing Infantino and is actively seeking candidates to challenge him. It is unknown whether Tashima has UEFA’s support. In 2015, UEFA had a similar strategy of supporting multiple candidates. Figo is Čeferin’s adviser, who says that “football does not need emperors.” Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this article. Associated Press retains rights to this material. ^{[7] [6]}

Disciplinary crises in FIFA, with controversial rulings in World Cup matches, have brought even more pressure. ^[6]

Tashima wants to make integrity his battle cry. The Japanese is the second person to announce his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, following former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega. He wishes to “share these principles with the world and contribute to a better future for football.” Tashima, who was president of the JFA from 2016 to 2024, wishes to rely on “experience accumulated over the years.” “I will accept this challenge with unwavering determination, so that I can contribute to the continued development of world football.” The deadline for candidates who declare their candidacy for the elections is November 18. Having led the governing body of world football since 2016, the 56-year-old Italian-Swiss Gianni Infantino remains the favorite in the elections to be held at the FIFA Congress on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, despite the criticism he faced from the announcement of a failed project to create a commercial entity open to private investors. ^[5]