Japan Football Association honorary president Kozo Tashima has announced his ambition to run for the Fifa presidency at the election in Morocco in March. He needs endorsements from five member associations before he can proceed with his bid.
Bid and endorsements
Tashima, 68, is the honorary president of the Japan Football Association and sits on the Fifa Council. He said he had received good replies from member associations he had contacted about his ambition to run.
Asked how confident he was in his ability to get the five endorsements, Tashima said: “I have confidence.”
Governance philosophy
Tashima said he wanted to bring good change to Fifa, review its system and build good governance. He said his campaign philosophy was based on the values of sincerity, soundness, fair play and integrity.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, where he spoke of why he feels he cannot leave Fifa as it is, Tashima said: “I would like to make sure that the game of football is safeguarded and to be loved and enjoyed by everybody. We have to review the system in Fifa and build good governance.”
He also 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.”
Criticism of Infantino's actions
Tashima said he was driven by disappointment in Gianni Infantino's recent actions concerning the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup and the abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Regarding the Balogun red-card incident, which involved US President Donald Trump calling Infantino to ask for the ban to be reviewed, Tashima said: “I have never seen the red card and the next game who can play.”
Gianni Infantino has been in charge of Fifa for a decade. He told BBC Sport that he believed he had the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football.
Election hopes and eligibility
Asked if he realistically hoped to win the election in Morocco in March, Tashima laughed before saying: “Of course, of course yes, I hope I will win. It is not easy.”
Ramon Vega announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the Fifa presidential election. He told BBC Sport he had received “more than five” endorsements but declined to identify the member associations backing him.
All candidates must prove they have played an “active role” in football for two of the last five years.
