The Fifa hopeful hoping to take Infantino down with 'samurai spirit'

What the report says

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association and a member of the Fifa Council, has become the first serious challenger to Gianni Infantino in the next Fifa presidential election, according to BBC Sport. Tashima said he is seeking to run in the March vote and needs endorsements from five national member associations before he can formally enter the contest.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Tashima said he has received positive responses from some of the associations he has approached and remains hopeful he can secure the required backing. He acknowledged that unseating Infantino will be difficult, given the current president’s decade in office and his claim, reported previously by BBC Sport, that he has support from the “vast majority” of world football.

Tashima said his campaign is driven by concern over recent decisions and governance issues at Fifa. He pointed to the handling of the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup and the abandoned proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors as examples of why he wants change. He said his priorities would be stronger governance, fair play, integrity and making football accessible to all.

The article also notes that former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has said he intends to stand as well, but Tashima is currently regarded as the leading challenger. If successful in gaining the endorsements, he would move on to a race that will test whether opposition to Infantino can coalesce ahead of the election in Morocco.