Who is Kozo Tashima, the Japanese official running for FIFA presidency?
Summary
Kozo Tashima, a former Japan Football Association president, announced he will run against Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in an election scheduled for March. He says his campaign aims to promote integrity and the development of world football.Key Facts
- Tashima is 68 and would be the first person from Japan to run for FIFA president.
- He began playing football after watching the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
- He studied coaching at the German Sport University Cologne and later worked as a coach and football development official in Japan.
- Tashima became Japan Football Association president in 2016 and served on the Asian Football Confederation executive committee and FIFA Council.
- As JFA president, he dismissed Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic two months before the 2018 World Cup; Japan later reached the last 16 under replacement coach Akira Nishino.
- Tashima stepped down as JFA chief in 2024 and was named honorary president.
- The JFA supports Tashima’s FIFA presidential bid.
- Tashima criticized FIFA’s decision to lift a ban on U.S. player Folarin Balogun and raised concerns about U.S. travel restrictions affecting Iran’s World Cup team.
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