Japanese Kozo Tashima's announcement of his candidacy for the presidency of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) opened a new front against the current president, Gianni Infantino, after one of the most prominent Asian football officials departed from the continental federation's position in support of the continuation of the Swiss-Italian president, at a time when pressure is increasing on the latter due to his relations with US President Donald Trump, and a project to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.
British press reports reveal dimensions that go beyond the traditional electoral competition, as Infantino faces the possibility of a European alignment forming behind the Japanese candidate, coinciding with American questions about his relationship with the Trump administration, and a parliamentary investigation addressing what Democratic lawmakers described as ongoing attempts by FIFA to get closer to the US President.
According to the British newspaper The Times, Tashima, a member of the FIFA Council and honorary president of the Japanese Football Association, announced Thursday, during a press conference in Tokyo, his intention to compete with Infantino in the elections next March, putting the current president in front of the possibility of running in a competitive ballot after he was a candidate for re-election without opposition.
Although Infantino remains a more likely candidate, Tashima's entry into the race may give him support from a large number of the 55 national federations under the umbrella of the European Football Association (UEFA), which witnessed calls for the resignation of the current president following the revelation of his faltering project to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.
The irony is that the Japanese Federation decided to support Tashima, despite the Asian Football Confederation announcing its support for Infantino, which puts the declared continental position to an actual test, and reveals a difference between the approach of the Asian leadership and the options of one of the most prominent football powers on the continent.
Tashima spoke about the motives for his candidacy, referring to the scandal of American striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, after his suspension resulting from a direct red card was suspended following a phone call Trump made to Infantino, according to what was reported by the British report.
The Japanese official also pointed to the way the Iranian national team was treated during the World Cup, as one of the reasons that prompted him to enter the race.
Tashima said: Since I am running, I want to win, but I believe there are more important things than winning or losing.
The candidate needs five letters of support from national unions in order to be able to run in the elections, while the possibility of another competitor appearing before the polling date remains.
In parallel with the electoral division, Infantino faces another file that may double the pressure on him, related to his relations with US President Donald Trump, especially after the Democrats took control of Congress in the midterm elections, according to what was reported by The Times.
One of the cases revolves around a project to sell shares in the World Cup, in which Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, was a candidate to be the main investor in it, before abandoning the project, which raised widespread objections within football circles.
The newspaper revealed that, on July 26, the Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives confirmed the opening of an investigation into what they described as a “continuous campaign” by FIFA and Infantino to curry favor with Trump, and they called on the president of the International Federation to submit documents and appear before the committee.
The results of the US elections may open the door to renewed accountability of Infantino regarding this relationship, at a time when he is preparing to engage in an electoral battle in which disputes related to the management of world football overlap with questions regarding the independence of the International Federation’s decisions.
On the other hand, Tashima's obtaining broad European support remains a possibility, and not an official declared position, and Infantino's continuation as a more likely candidate makes the upcoming competition a test of the size of the opposition rather than a certain shift in the balance of power.
Thus, the current president finds himself facing two simultaneous challenges: a Japanese candidate who enjoys the support of his national federation despite the declared Asian position, and American questions that may reopen the files of his relationship with Trump, while attention turns to the extent of Tashima’s ability to convert objections into electoral votes.
The management of Al-Ettifaq Club has set the “Gulf Champions League” title as a main goal to achieve this season, after the team was eliminated early from the King’s Cup tournament, and its chances of competing in the Saudi Professional League declined based on the results and levels achieved in the past 12 rounds.
Originally, the plan to achieve the Gulf Champions League title was not the result of the moment, because the two agreements were emotionally and emotionally linked to this tournament for 4 decades, when the “Commandos” achieved the title in it for the first time, after which the team achieved the championship twice, most recently in 2006. That is, 20 years ago from now.
Al-Ettifaq reached the final and semi-final more than once after the last edition, but it lost the Gulf title, thus continuing to stay away from both local and foreign tournaments alike, with the succession of club administrations. This is a long period of time that makes Al-Ittifaq Club “only nominally” related to history without any signs of major future achievements, in exchange for the rise of neighboring clubs and their entry into the struggle of competition and achievements. Including Al-Fateh, which won the 2012 league title and the Saudi Super Cup before retreating and Al-Qadisiyah returning to the competition again with greater strength, reaching the King’s Cup final, and is fourth in the standings in the last two editions of the league championship, and is currently competing on 4 fronts; Among them are the Saudi League, the Super Cup and the King’s Cup, as well as the AFC Champions League for the elite.
Al-Ettifaq’s “forced” and long absence from tournaments created a segment of the fans who did not know the achievements of this club except by searching old videos, which made Al-Ettifaq gradually lose its popularity in the Eastern Province in particular, and in the Kingdom in general as a result of this decline.
Al-Ettifaq ended two matches in the current Gulf Championship with victory, while it was unable to travel to Erbil to play its match against its team in the second round, so that the file of that match would be submitted to the organizing committee of this tournament for a decision. Either the agreement will be considered withdrawn after the match was refused to be postponed, or the decision will be amended so that it will be rescheduled at a later time.
Whether the result of that match was withdrawn or rescheduled, Al-Ettifaq’s position in the standings is quite ideal, as it gained 6 points from two matches by defeating Kazma of Kuwait, and Ajman of the Emirates, which had won Kazma and Erbil and topped, but Al-Ittifaq defeated it and returned it to third place in the standings, in exchange for Erbil advancing to the lead after defeating Kazma with a large score, and Al-Ittiqaq points were counted for it without the decision being finalized.
On the technical level, Al-Ettifaq appears to be a strong candidate to win the tournament, and it is the strongest participating team in terms of capabilities and elements, although it is joined by another Saudi team, NEOM, which is present for the first time in the Gulf Championship in the first group.
Al-Ettifaq coach Athar Babas said in his response to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat’s question about the importance of this tournament, “Its value is high for Al-Ettifaq, and we want to compete for it vigorously in order to obtain it.”
The coach appeared ecstatic after the victory over Ajman during his speech at the press conference. He even mentioned that his team was ready to face Al Hilal, the leader of the Saudi League, on the same date previously scheduled despite the issuance of the postponement decision. However, he justified his speech by emphasizing that his team had reached a stage of high readiness and spirit to play that match.
The positives of the victory were reflected in the coach, who increased the number of vacation days he had set for the players from 5 to 7 days, after the players urged him in the locker room, as a result of the postponement of the matches of the 13th round of the league, and he even celebrated with them after the decision to increase the number of vacation days.
Meanwhile, Samer Al-Meshal, head of Al-Ettifaq, said that the Gulf Championship is “our championship and we are focused on it,” and added: “We must achieve it,” expressing his happiness at obtaining the three points against Ajman, and optimistic about “a more beautiful future.”
Speaking to the media, he stated that the decision regarding what happened regarding not traveling to Erbil is still with the relevant authorities.
He expressed his hope to see a greater presence of Al-Ettifaq fans, considering that the number of attendees recorded in past matches does not reflect the club’s fans.
Despite the importance of the last match, the crowd attendance did not exceed 1,644 fans, including the Ajman Association team coming from the Emirates.
Abdullah Al-Khatib, the team leader, believes that the agreement is capable of making something happen this season, stressing the focus on the Gulf Championship.
This tournament is of particular importance to the club’s management, which wants to end its last season in leadership of Al-Ettifaq by making a mark and achieving a championship, as it ends the legal period of Samer Al-Meshal’s management next summer, after he won acclamation “2023.”
