Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, says he will run for Fifa president. He will take on Gianni Infantino in March's election in Rabat.
Tashima is the second challenger to declare before the November 18 deadline. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega was the first. Candidates need nominations from five of Fifa's 211 member associations to get on the ballot. The Guardian reported that it is unclear whether Vega has that support. Tashima should have no trouble securing it.
According to the Guardian, Tashima is acting with Uefa's blessing. Uefa has led the opposition to Infantino since his failed attempt this summer to sell a 20% stake in Fifa's commercial rights. Tashima, a former Japan international, has many allies in Europe. He held talks with Uefa officials at last month's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress in Tokyo.
Tashima told the Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon that he has the full support of his association. "It's not about winning or losing but about conveying to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built," he said. He added that these are the values Fifa needs now.
His bid follows a major U-turn by AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa. Sheikh Salman had sided with Uefa and Concacaf in trying to remove Infantino. At the end of the Tokyo congress, he publicly endorsed Infantino instead. The Guardian said Tashima could split the AFC vote and is certain to win votes from Europe and Concacaf. Other candidates could still enter the race.
The paper reported that Uefa spent months searching for a challenger. It may have concluded that a non-European would fare better, given widespread resentment of Europe's perceived dominance of the sport. Infantino still has the backing of Africa and South America, plus leading AFC members Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He is expected to cruise towards the 106 votes needed for a fourth term.