Kozo Tashima outlines FIFA reform bid as endorsement deadline nears

Kozo Tashima has set out his reasons for challenging Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, telling BBC Sport he wants changes to the organisation's governance. The 68-year-old said he had received encouraging responses from member associations he had approached, but still needed to secure the five endorsements required to stand in the election in Morocco in March.

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In the interview, Tashima acknowledged Infantino's substantial support and his own limited campaign resources. He nevertheless expressed confidence in gathering the necessary backing and said he hoped to win. His proposed approach emphasises integrity, fair play and making football accessible, with a review of FIFA's governance among his priorities. Those statements set out his campaign ambitions, rather than a confirmed election platform adopted by the organisation.

Tashima said his decision was driven partly by dissatisfaction over the cancellation of United States forward Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension and the abandoned proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. He argued that questions about the handling of the suspension remained unanswered. These were criticisms he made in explaining his candidacy to the BBC.

BBC Sport's separate report on his announcement said the deadline for candidates is 18 November. Tashima is the Japan Football Association's honorary president, a FIFA Council member and a former international player and coach. That report said he has the Japanese association's backing. It also described the proposed World Cup investment scheme, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, as having been dropped at the end of July following opposition across football.

Infantino is seeking a fourth term and has been working to consolidate support. According to the BBC's announcement report, the Asian Football Confederation endorsed him after its president, Sheikh Salman, changed his position. Infantino told the broadcaster last month that he believed most of world football supported him, underscoring the challenge facing any opponent seeking to build an electoral coalition.

Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega also announced his intention to run in October, the BBC reported. Tashima's entry adds another prospective challenger, but his immediate task remains obtaining the required association endorsements before the November deadline. His positive account of discussions does not yet establish that he has satisfied that requirement.