Former Japan coach Takeshi Okada quits as vice-president of Japan FA over FIFA World Cup controversies

Former Japan coach Takeshi Okada has resigned as vice-president of the Japan Football Association, citing considerations over developments ​surrounding FIFA and the World Cup.

Okada’s resignation got here per week after Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa declared assist for Gianni Infantino’s bid for ​re-election as FIFA president on the AFC’s extraordinary congress ​in Tokyo.

The endorsement marked a pointy shift from ⁠the AFC’s place three months earlier, when the confederation accused ​FIFA of a “fundamental breach of trust” over the deserted FIFA ​Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal to promote a stake in FIFA competitions.

“Guided by my belief that sports should embody integrity, I have always valued their social ​significance,” Okada mentioned in an announcement on the JFA ​web site.

“However, the series of actions surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup represent ‌a ⁠significant divergence from my personal convictions. As a sportsman, I cannot accept this, which has led me to make this decision.”

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is looking for re-election in ​March after ​apologising for his ⁠failed personal funding mission. Support from Asia, certainly one of FIFA’s largest voting blocs, may show ​essential to his bid.

“Given the relationship with the ​Asian ⁠Football Confederation and the impact on Japanese soccer, I understand that there are practical reasons for aligning with the AFC’s stance,” ⁠Okada ​mentioned.

Okada coached Japan on the 1998 ​and 2010 World Cups, main the staff to the final 16 in South ​Africa.