Gianni Infantino has run Fifa for a decade and says he has the backing of the "vast, vast majority" of world football. Kozo Tashima does not seem fazed. The 68-year-old, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, is the first serious challenger to declare for March's presidential election, and he says he will fight with "samurai spirit".
Five endorsements first
Before any of that, Tashima needs the support of five member associations just to get on the ballot. He told BBC Sport he has had "good replies" from the ones he has approached. He sits on the Fifa Council, has more than 20 years of experience across the Japan FA, the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa, and he is a former player. Asked whether he really expects to win the vote in Morocco, he laughed, then said: "Of course, of course yes, I hope I will win. It is not easy."
What pushed him to stand
Tashima says he is driven by disappointment at two recent episodes. The first is the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, after Donald Trump called Infantino to ask for the ban to be reviewed. The second is the abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. "Most of the things are not answered yet by Mr President Infantino," he said, adding that he had never seen the red card issue handled that way and hopes it never happens again.
His pitch is built on "sincerity, soundness, fair play and integrity", a football-first approach and a review of Fifa's governance. "Now I am alone and my budget is not enough but it is OK," he said. "My policy, my philosophy, I have to fight against him with my samurai spirit."
Not the only name in the frame
Tashima is not the only one to put his hand up. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega announced last month that he intends to stand and claims "more than five" endorsements, though he has declined to say who is backing him. Vega has tried three times before and failed each time to collect the necessary five associations, which is why Tashima, with his Fifa Council seat, is seen as the more credible rival. All candidates must also show they have played an active role in football in two of the last five years.
For now this is an underdog story with a long way to go. But a challenger from inside Fifa's own council, asking public questions about how decisions were made, is a headache Infantino would rather not have.
Context: Fifa presidential election due in March in Morocco. Candidates need endorsements from five member associations. Kozo Tashima, 68, is honorary president of the Japan Football Association and a Fifa Council member. Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president for a decade.
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