Kozo Tashima is preparing to run against Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, stating he will rely on his “samurai spirit” to mount a serious challenge. The 68-year-old honorary president of the Japan Football Association first needs to secure endorsements from five member associations worldwide.
Challenging the Incumbent
Tashima stated in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport that he has received good responses from member associations he has contacted since announcing his candidacy for the March elections in Morocco. If he secures the necessary backing, he faces the difficult task of defeating Infantino, who has led FIFA for a decade and previously told BBC Sport he retains the support of the vast majority of world football.
As a member of the FIFA Council, Tashima acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but emphasized his desire to bring positive change to the organization. He cited disappointment with Infantino’s recent decisions, including the controversial handling of the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup and an abandoned plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Campaign Goals and Governance
Expressing his motivation to run, Tashima told BBC Sport that he recognizes Infantino’s strong backing but remains undeterred. “I know he has a lot of supporters,” Tashima said. “Now I am alone and my budget is not enough but it is OK. My policy, my philosophy, I have to fight against him with my samurai spirit.”
Tashima aims to safeguard football, review FIFA’s systems, and rebuild good governance. He stressed that sport, and football in particular, should project values like fair play, cooperation, hard work, and integrity during uncertain global times. When asked about his confidence in obtaining the five required endorsements, he expressed optimism based on early positive replies, and laughed when asked if he realistically hopes to win in Morocco, answering, “Of course, of course yes, I hope I will win. It is not easy.”
Concerns Over FIFA Decisions
The candidate’s platform focuses on values of sincerity, soundness, fair play, and integrity. Addressing the Balogun red-card incident—which involved a call from US President Donald Trump to review the ban—Tashima noted that Infantino has failed to explain how the situation unfolded. He added that numerous matters remain unanswered by the current president, and he hopes to utilize his more than 20 years of experience with the Japan Football Association, Asian Football Confederation, and FIFA to implement positive changes.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega also announced his intention to stand in the election last month, claiming to have secured more than five endorsements while keeping the identities of those associations private. Because Vega has previously failed three times to gather the necessary backing and faces questions over eligibility, Tashima is widely viewed as the first serious challenger to Infantino.
