Infantino’s Japanese challenger claims he could unseat FIFA president

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of Japan’s football association, says he has a 20 to 30 per cent chance of defeating Gianni Infantino in FIFA’s March presidential election. He argues that governance is FIFA’s biggest problem and says he wants to change the organisation while retaining what works.

Tashima, 68, has served on the FIFA Council since 2015 and says officials from eight countries have contacted him, though he has no formal endorsements yet. Candidates must secure nominations from at least five national associations and submit them by 18 November; Tashima says he hopes to gain support from six. Infantino is seeking a fourth term and has backing from the head of Asian football and several FIFA confederations, while former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has also declared his intention to challenge him.