Ramon Vega, 55, a former Cagliari and Tottenham defender, has announced his intention to run in next year's FIFA presidential election . He is the first to challenge outgoing president Gianni Infantino. A former Swiss international, Vega has worked in the financial sector since retiring in 2004. " I am running to reunite the world football family , implement genuine and lasting reforms, modernize FIFA for the 21st century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust our sport urgently needs," he stated. Vega had already attempted to run in 2015, following the suspension of former president Sepp Blatter. Four years later, he announced his intention to challenge Infantino, but failed to secure the support needed to be included on the list of candidates, having fallen short of the required quota of five out of a total of 211 member associations.
" I am running because my life has prepared me to serve this sport ," Vega said in a statement. "Football does not belong to presidents, confederations, or officials. Football is the people's sport and belongs to everyone: players, coaches, referees, fans, volunteers, clubs, leagues, associations, and communities. The current leadership has demoralized the world of football," he added. "Weak governance has undermined FIFA's credibility and undermined trust within the global football family. We must prevent this conflict from escalating. Power struggles among those at the top must never be allowed to harm those who matter most: players, coaches, referees, and fans around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better. Football is in intensive care, hooked up to life support."
(Unioneonline)