Japan FA’s Kozo Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency

The Japan Football Association’s honorary president, Kozo Tashima, ⁠has announced his intention to stand against Gianni Infantino in March’s Fifa presidential election.

Tashima is the second challenger to declare in advance of the 18 November deadline after the former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega, although it remains unclear whether Vega has the backing of five of Fifa’s 211 member associations, which is required to take a place on the ballot in Rabat.

The widely respected Tashima will have no problem in securing the nominations and is understood to have acted with the blessing of Uefa, which has led the opposition to Infantino after his failed attempt to sell off a 20% stake in Fifa’s commercial rights this summer.