Takeshi Okada resigns as JFA vice-president over FIFA politics

Takeshi Okada, the former manager of the Japanese national football team, has resigned from his position as vice-president of the Japan Football Association (JFA). His departure, effective October 24, comes as a protest against the political climate surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election campaign.

Okada cited a fundamental conflict between his personal belief that “sports should embody integrity” and recent actions taken by football governing bodies. His resignation follows a significant policy shift by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which recently announced its support for Infantino. This move reversed a previous stance where AFC leadership had joined European and North American officials in criticizing Infantino over transparency concerns and a failed plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

While Okada acknowledged the “practical reasons” for Japan to align with the AFC to maintain regional relations, he stated that as a sportsman, he could not accept the current direction. The controversy surrounding Infantino also includes scrutiny over his management style and political connections, including ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.