Japanese vice-president resigns after AFC's reversal on Infantino

JFA vice-president Takeshi Okada resigns over the AFC's reversal to support FIFA president Infantino ahead of the election.

Takeshi Okada has stepped down as vice-president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), citing a fundamental disagreement with the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to back FIFA president Gianni Infantino for re-election.

The AFC had initially joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticising Infantino over his plans to commercialise the World Cup by selling broadcast rights. However, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced his support for Infantino on Friday, aligning Asia with backing from Africa and South America.

Okada, who also served two terms as Japan's national team coach at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, said he could not accept the AFC's shift. "Throughout my career I have cherished the social value of sport, based on the conviction that sport must be conducted with integrity," he stated. "However, there is a considerable gap between the recent reactions regarding the FIFA World Cup and my own beliefs; as a sportsman, I cannot agree with this." He acknowledged the practical need to align Japan's position with the AFC's but felt compelled to resign on principle.