# Kozo Tashima Challenges FIFA Presidency to Restore Integrity Former Japan Football Association chief Kozo Tashima announces his bid against Gianni Infantino. - **Source:** [The Hindu – Sport](https://www.thehindu.com/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c6bb91cc-3c5d-4e62-98a7-b55211950438 ## Historic FIFA Presidential Bid Kozo Tashima, the 68-year-old former Japan Football Association chairman, has officially announced his candidacy for the FIFA presidency. He will challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino in the upcoming election scheduled for March. Tashima is the first Japanese national to seek the top leadership position within the global football governing body. ## Focus on Sport Integrity Tashima emphasizes that his primary motivation is to restore integrity to football in an era dominated by business and financial interests. He expressed concern regarding the lack of an election process and believes FIFA must demonstrate its ability to self-regulate. His campaign prioritizes ethical standards over simple electoral victory. ## Background in German Football His perspective on sports management was heavily influenced by his time studying at the German Sport University Cologne during the 1980s. Tashima described the German training methods as highly scientific and systematic, which contrasted sharply with the Japanese approach at the time. This experience fundamentally altered his view on sports. ## Rise Through JFA Ranks After retiring as a player, Tashima dedicated his career to developing Japanese football through coaching and administrative roles. He served as the Japan Football Association president starting in 2016 and currently holds the title of honorary president. He also maintains significant experience on the Asian Football Confederation executive committee. ## Leadership and Accountability During his tenure as JFA chief, Tashima demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions, including firing coach Vahid Halilhodzic shortly before the 2018 World Cup. He famously accepted full responsibility for the team's performance despite not being the one who originally hired the coach, highlighting his commitment to institutional accountability. ## Concerns Over Political Interference Tashima has voiced strong disapproval regarding political interventions in football affairs. He specifically cited FIFA’s decision to lift a ban on US player Folarin Balogun following intervention by President Donald Trump. Additionally, he criticized travel restrictions imposed on the Iranian national team by American authorities as detrimental to the sport. ## Public Health Milestone Beyond his sports career, Tashima is recognized in Japan for being one of the first high-profile public figures to contract coronavirus in March 2020. This event brought him into the national spotlight outside of sports pages, marking a rare moment where his personal life intersected with broader global health crises. ## Future of Global Governance Tashima’s candidacy represents a push for transparency within FIFA’s governance structure. By leveraging the JFA’s backing, he aims to share the values of integrity built within Japanese football with the rest of the world. His challenge serves as a critical test for FIFA's internal reform processes and future leadership direction. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/kozo-tashima-japan-leader-looking-to-bring-integrity-to-fifa/article71672790.ece — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._