GENEVA — Takeshi Okada, a two-time World Cup coach, has resigned from his position as vice president of the Japanese soccer federation in protest against the political maneuvering surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election. Okada’s resignation was made public on Wednesday, based on a statement he dated last Saturday.
The announcement comes one day after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly reversed its stance and endorsed Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term in office during the upcoming election scheduled for March 2024. Infantino’s leadership has faced criticism since July for various issues, including a failed proposal to sell a stake in World Cup profits and controversies surrounding his management style and political affiliations, particularly with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In his resignation statement, the 70-year-old Okada expressed his belief that sports should embody integrity. “However, the series of actions surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup represent a significant divergence from my personal convictions,” he stated. “As a sportsman, I cannot accept this.”
Okada recognized the complexity of Japan’s position within FIFA and Asian soccer politics, noting his understanding of the “practical reasons for aligning with the AFC’s stance.” Japan’s federation president, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, indicated that Japan is aiming to host the men’s World Cup before 2050 and previously participated in an online meeting where the AFC supported Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the tournament in 2034.
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had previously criticized Infantino alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, calling his actions “deception” and a “fundamental breach of trust” for attempting to sell World Cup profits to private investors. However, Infantino has maintained strong support from Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, and has regathered support from Saudi Arabia, the future 2034 host.
Last Friday, Sheikh Salman announced that the AFC would endorse Infantino, surprising many observers in the global soccer community. The AFC comprises 46 of FIFA’s 211 member federations, all of which hold voting rights in the upcoming election. Infantino has promised each member $25 million in development funds over the next four years.
The deadline for UEFA to present a candidate against Infantino is set for November 18, 2023, as the race for FIFA’s presidency intensifies ahead of the election in Rabat, Morocco.
