Japan Soccer Chief Steps Down to Protest FIFA Politics

Two-time World Cup coach Takeshi Okada resigned as vice president of the Japanese soccer federation on Wednesday. His departure was a direct protest against the political maneuvering surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s campaign to secure a fourth term. Okada, who is 70 years old, cited a conflict between his personal values and the actions of the governing bodies during the recent World Cup cycle. He stated that sports should embody integrity, but the events of this year represented a divergence from his convictions.

The resignation statement was dated Saturday, the day after the Asian Football Confederation, or AFC, abruptly changed its position. The AFC had previously aligned with critics of Infantino but announced support for the incumbent at an assembly in Tokyo last Friday. This U-turn occurred 24 hours before Okada filed his notice. Okada acknowledged the practical difficulties Japan faces in world soccer politics, noting that he understood the reasons for aligning with the AFC’s new stance. However, he wrote that as a sportsman, he could not accept the situation.

Infantino has faced mounting opposition since July due to a failed plan to sell a permanent stake in World Cup profits. The controversy also involves his management style and ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. These factors sparked backlash from soccer leaders in Europe, North America, and initially in Asia. Infantino proposed a $4.2 billion deal with private investors led by Joshua Kushner, who is the younger brother of Jared Kushner. Jared Kushner is married to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Before the AFC’s recent shift, the body was part of a group criticizing Infantino. In August, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa joined UEFA and CONCACAF officials in condemning Infantino. They accused him of deception and a fundamental breach of trust regarding the profit sale. Despite this earlier criticism, Infantino maintained the support of Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host. He also regained the backing of Saudi Arabia, the 2034 host, which had withheld public support until hosting Infantino in Jeddah this month.

Japan aims to host the men’s World Cup before 2050. Federation president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto stated this goal during an October 2023 online AFC meeting. At that time, the AFC endorsed Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 edition. The current political dynamics in Asia are heavily influenced by Gulf states, which act as major power brokers in the region.

The AFC represents 46 of the 211 FIFA member federations that will vote on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. These 211 members own FIFA as a Switzerland-based non-profit organization. Infantino has promised each member $25 million over the next four years for development projects and operating costs. European soccer’s ruling body, UEFA, has committed to finding a candidate to challenge Infantino by the November 18 deadline.

Disputes within the AFC continued following the Tokyo meetings. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, a former FIFA vice president, posted on social media that the final AFC meeting was pure politics at the behest of Infantino. He argued that Asia was not united behind the incumbent president and stated that no amount of coercion, threats, or bribes should be allowed.

The AFC rejected Prince Ali’s comments as unsubstantiated. The body pushed back against his claim that no member was allowed to take the floor to speak. The AFC stated that such serious accusations must be supported by credible evidence. It referred the matter to its judicial officials for possible disciplinary action.