Infantino already has a rival at the polls
The former defender of Tottenham Ramon Vegawho as a player was international 23 times for Swissannounced this Wednesday his intention to run for the FIFA presidency next year. At 55 years old, Vega is the first to confirm his desire to challenge Gianni Infantinocurrent president of the body that governs world football.
Infantino He will run for re-election despite calls for him to resign after the failure of his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, a plan that generated great controversy in the world of football.
Former central defender of the national team Switzerland, Vega also played in Celtic and the WatfordEdit and has worked in the financial sector since retiring from football in 2004. He belonged to the Tottenham between 1997 (he arrived from Cagliari) and 2001. Between December 2000 and June 2001, the Spurs loaned the Celtic.
Ramon Vega He said: “I am standing to reunify the world football family, push for genuine and lasting reform, modernize FIFA for the 21st century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust our sport urgently needs.”
In September, Infantino He claimed to be “fully committed to the leadership of FIFA” despite calls for his resignation from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. Vega considered running for the FIFA presidency in 2015 after the suspension of the former president Joseph Blatter.
Four years later, Vega announced his candidacy against Infantinobut failed to obtain enough support to run in the elections, as it needed the support of five of FIFA’s 211 member federations.
Vega said in a statement this Wednesday: “I am running because my life has prepared me to serve football, which does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is bigger than any position, any person or any institution. It is the sport of the people and belongs to everyone: to the players, coaches, referees, fans, volunteers, clubs, leagues, associations and communities that give life to football.”
This is how the statement continues Ramon Vega: “Football belongs to every child who discovers the sport, to every professional who carries the hopes of a nation and to the billions of fans whose passion makes football the king of the world’s sport. Football must always come first. Yet for too long, division has fractured our football family.”
Always according to the public note of the candidate to preside over the FIFA: “The current board has demoralized football. Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family. We must prevent this conflict from getting worse“.
This is how the statement continues Vega: “Ego battles within football administration should never harm those who matter most: the players, coaches, referees and fans around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better.”
Vega concluded: “Football is in the emergency room, in intensive care. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new direction and fundamental reform. We must reunify the football family, restore trust, achieve stability and modernize FIFA governance. This requires decisive change, not superficial adjustments.”
