FIFA Politics Around Infantino Re-Election Push Japanese Official to Resign
He said the responses to FIFA’s World Cup controversies conflicted with his values and cited a 24-hour turnaround in the AFC’s support for Infantino.
- On Wednesday, Japan Football Association Vice President Takeshi Okada resigned, citing a "significant gap" between his personal values and the organization's response to recent FIFA World Cup controversies.
- Okada's departure followed the Asian Football Confederation and Sheikh Salman backing Gianni Infantino's re-election bid, despite signaling they could turn on the FIFA president two months ago.
- The former coach, who led Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, stated his resignation was "reached after careful and repeated deliberation" and driven by conviction that sport must be conducted with integrity.
- Infantino faces criticism over plans to open FIFA competitions to private investors, prompting UEFA and CONCACAF to declare that the sport "belongs to no individual."
- While Okada understands the "practical reasons for aligning our stance with that of the AFC," he concluded he could not accept the "series of responses" surrounding the recent tournaments.
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Ekstra Bladet
berlingske.dkTakeshi Okada has chosen to step down as vice president of Japan over concerns over FIFA's actions
Infantino FIFA re-election politics prompt Japan football vice president to resign
Japan Football Association vice president Takeshi Okada has resigned in protest at the politics surrounding Gianni Infantino's FIFA re-election campaign. The former Japan coach says the developments conflict with his belief that sport must embody integrity.
Daily Record
FIFA politics around Infantino re-election bid compels Japanese official to quit
Two-time World Cup coach Takeshi Okada quit as Japanese soccer federation vice president in protest at the politics around FIFA during Gianni Infantino’s campaign to be re-elected. The Japan Football Association has published Okada’s resignation statement dated last Saturday. That…
Takeshi Okada, vice president of the Japanese Football Federation (JFA), announced his resignation on Wednesday, after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared its support for Gianni Infantino in his race for the FIFA presidency.
Amid the big attractions since Invantino declared the World Cup, and after the Asian Union announced its support for the World Cup,
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