Japan's Kozo Tashima to challenge Gianni Infantino for Fifa presidency with 'samurai spirit'

Kozo Tashima has declared his candidacy to challenge Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency in the March election in Morocco, saying he will fight with his "samurai spirit". He must first obtain endorsements from five member associations to qualify for the ballot.

The 68-year-old honorary president of the Japan Football Association and a member of the Fifa Council told BBC Sport he has received "good replies" from some associations since announcing his ambition to run. Tashima acknowledged the difficulty of taking on Infantino, who has been in charge of Fifa for a decade and told BBC Sport last month he believed he had the backing of the "vast, vast majority" of world football. In an exclusive interview, Tashima said he wants to bring "good change" to the organisation.

Tashima said his decision to run was driven by disappointment with recent actions at Fifa, citing 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. He described those episodes as part of the reason he "cannot leave Fifa as it is."

On his chances and campaign approach he said: "I know [Infantino] has a lot of supporters," he 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." He added: "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."

Asked about securing the required endorsements, Tashima said: "I have confidence. I already asked to some of the member association and [received] good replies so far." He laughed when asked if he realistically hopes to win the election, then said: "Of course, of course yes, I hope I will win. It is not easy." He said his campaign will centre on a philosophy based on the "values of sincerity, soundness, fair play, and integrity."

Discussing the Balogun red-card episode, Tashima said: "I have never seen the red card and the next game who can play. "This is, I hope, never happens in the world football. He didn't explain about this issue, how to come and how [it came] to happen." He added: "Most of the things are not answered yet by Mr President Infantino." Tashima also cited his experience in the Japan Football Association, the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa "for some more than 20 years" as a basis to "bring good change if I am elected."

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has also announced his intention to stand and told BBC Sport he had received "more than five" endorsements but declined to name the member associations backing him. The article notes all candidates must prove they have played an "active role" in football for two of the last five years, and Vega said he is confident he is eligible as a shareholder of a club. Tashima is regarded in the report as the first serious challenger to Infantino.

First Tashima must secure the five member association endorsements required to appear on the ballot; if he does so he will face Infantino in the Fifa presidential vote in Morocco in March.