Japan soccer VP Okada resigns over FIFA leadership dispute

Takeshi Okada, a former manager of the Japanese national team, resigned from his post as vice president of the Japan Football Association. The 63-year-old coach, who led the squad in the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, stepped down on October 28. His departure follows a week in which the head of Asian football publicly endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president.

Okada stated that his resignation was driven by a conflict between his personal convictions and the actions of football governing bodies. He described a large gap between his belief in the integrity of sport and the responses to recent controversies involving the World Cup. "With regard to the series of responses surrounding the recent FIFA World Cup, there is a significant gap between those responses and my own beliefs, and as a sportsman I cannot accept them," Okada said.

The tension stems from a shift in the Asian Football Confederation's stance. In March, the AFC joined European and North American bodies in criticizing Infantino. The groups issued a joint letter stating that football "belongs to no individual." This condemnation targeted Infantino's plan to allow private investors into premium competitions like the World Cup. That initiative was later abandoned after receiving widespread criticism.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, the AFC president, reversed that position during a meeting in Tokyo. He declared unequivocal support for Infantino's bid to win a fourth and final term in March. Okada acknowledged the practical implications of this alliance for Japanese football. "Taking into account our relationship with the AFC and the impact on Japanese football, I do understand that there are practical reasons for aligning our stance with that of the AFC," he noted.

Infantino has apologized for the failed private investment project. He has led FIFA since 2016 and faces a re-election vote in March. His campaign has lost support from some national associations amid calls for him to quit. Okada said he had deliberated carefully before making his decision. He emphasized that he had treasured the social value of sport throughout his career and believed it must be conducted with integrity.

Okada is one of three vice presidents serving in the Japan Football Association. His exit leaves a vacancy in the executive leadership of the national body. The JFA has not yet announced a replacement. The resignation highlights the internal friction within Japanese football as it navigates its relationship with the continental confederation and the global governing body.