Former Japan coach Takeshi Okada resigns as JFA vice president over FIFA politics

Geneva: Two-time World Cup head coach Takeshi Okada has stepped down from his role as vice president of the Japan Football Association (JFA). His resignation comes as a direct protest against the surrounding political climate of FIFA during Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election.

The JFA released Okada’s resignation statement on Wednesday, dated last Saturday. The timing coincided with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) performing a sudden U-turn just 24 hours prior by officially endorsing Infantino, who is pursuing a fourth and final term as FIFA president in the upcoming March election.

Infantino has encountered significant pushback since July regarding a failed plan to sell off World Cup rights, alongside criticism over his management style and high-profile political connections, including U.S. President Donald Trump. The controversy triggered outrage among football administrators across Europe, North America, and initially Asia.

Okada, 70, who guided Japan’s national team during the 1998 and 2010 World Cup tournaments, stressed his personal ethical standards in his resignation letter.

He wrote of his belief “that sports should embody integrity.”

“However, the series of actions surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup represent a significant divergence from my personal convictions,” Okada said in the statement. “As a sportsman, I cannot accept this.”

Acknowledging the delicate diplomatic landscape, Okada added that he understood “there are practical reasons for aligning with the AFC’s stance.”

Japan maintains long-term ambitions to host the men's World Cup by 2050, a goal reiterated by JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto during an October 2023 AFC meeting, where the continental body endorsed Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 tournament.

The AFC’s shift in stance marks a rapid turnaround. In August, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa aligned with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani to criticize Infantino. The leadership trio accused him of “deception” and a “fundamental breach of trust” after Infantino attempted to negotiate a $4.2 billion deal selling a permanent stake in World Cup profits to private investors. That investor group was led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner.

Despite the fallout, Infantino retained steady support from 2022 host nation Qatar and appears to have mended relations with 2034 host Saudi Arabia following a recent visit to Jeddah.

Both Gulf nations hold considerable influence over Asian football governance. On Friday, Sheikh Salman, a member of the Bahraini royal family, surprised global observers at an AFC meeting in Tokyo by declaring the confederation’s backing for Infantino.

The AFC accounts for 46 of the 211 voting member associations eligible to vote at the March 18 FIFA presidential election in Rabat, Morocco. Infantino has pledged $25 million in funding for development and operations to each member association over the next four-year cycle. Meanwhile, European governing body UEFA has stated its intent to field a rival candidate prior to the November 18 submission deadline.

The political fallout from the Tokyo assembly expanded further this week, drawing sharp criticism from Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan. The former FIFA vice president and 2016 presidential candidate took to social media, asserting that the AFC meeting was “pure politics at the behest of Gianni Infantino.”

Prince Ali rejected the notion that the continent was unanimous in its endorsement, stating, “No amount of coercion, threats or bribes should be allowed.”

The AFC dismissed the comments as “unsubstantiated” and disputed claims that delegates were barred from speaking on the floor.

“Such serious accusations must be supported by credible evidence,” the AFC stated, adding that Prince Ali’s remarks had been referred to its judicial bodies for potential disciplinary review.

Responding on social media platform X on Wednesday, Prince Ali clarified that his initial remarks were intended to highlight “the importance of transparency in football governance.”

“It was a statement of principle, not an allegation against any person. Where concerns arise, the proper place for them is the competent bodies,” Prince Ali posted. “I respect the AFC and its judicial bodies and will cooperate fully with any process. As the FIFA Statutes provide, the Jordan Football Association will cast its vote in the FIFA presidential election independently.” (AP)