Japanese federation vice-president resigns after Asia's backing for Infantino
Takeshi Okada resigned as vice-president of the Japanese Football Association on Wednesday (28), citing ethical disagreements with the Asian Confederation's backing for Gianni Infantino's re-election, due to be voted in March 2027. Okada coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.
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Takeshi Okada renunciou à vice-presidência da Federação Japonesa de Futebol (JFA). O anúncio veio nesta quarta-feira, 28, e o motivo apontado é o apoio da Confederação Asiática (AFC) à reeleição de Gianni Infantino, cuja reeleição será votada em março de 2027.
Okada, que dirigiu o Japão em duas Copas do Mundo (1998 e 2010), disse enxergar divergências éticas profundas nos rumos políticos e nas medidas recentes da gestão internacional do esporte.
"Guiado pela minha crença de que os esportes devem incorporar a integridade, sempre valorizei sua importância social. No entanto, a série de ações em torno da Copa do Mundo da FIFA deste ano representa uma divergência significativa de minhas convicções pessoais. Como desportista, não posso aceitar isso, o que me levou a tomar essa decisão", disse, em comunicado publicado no site da federação.
O apoio formal da AFC a Infantino marcou uma guinada. Semanas antes, a cúpula asiática marchava junto com europeus e norte-americanos, cobrando explicações sobre decisões administrativas e propostas do presidente da Fifa.
A medida mais controversa de Infantino foi a tentativa de aprovar um plano que, na prática, privatizaria parte da Copa do Mundo.
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