Takeshi Okada Resigns from Japan Football Association Role
Takeshi Okada, the vice president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), resigned on Wednesday, stating that the "series of responses" to controversies surrounding the FIFA World Cup did not align with his personal values. Okada, who previously coached Japan in the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, stepped down a week after Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), expressed support for Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as FIFA president during a meeting in Tokyo.
This support came after the AFC had condemned Infantino's proposal to open FIFA's premium competitions to private investors. Okada emphasized that his decision was made "entirely of my own volition" and highlighted a significant gap between FIFA's responses and his beliefs regarding the integrity of sport.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is facing calls to resign amid criticism and has lost support from some associations ahead of his re-election campaign in March.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Punch Newspapers. Read the original report below.
Read full article
Continue on Punch Newspapers
Get the week in one email
Top stories, NPFL results, the naira, every Friday morning. Free, one email a week.
Related Stories
German FA Vice-President Demands Infantino's Resignation
Infantino Apologizes for Controversial World Cup Plan
Infantino Confronts FIFA Leaders After Stake Sale Failure
AFC Supports Gianni Infantino's FIFA Re-election Bid
FIFA Completes Mission in Nigeria to Address Football Issues
Infantino Rejects Resignation Amid UEFA Criticism Over FFE
Get Plus234Feed on messaging apps
Same headlines, delivered where you already scroll.
