The president of the Japan Football Association, Kozo Tashima, has said he will run for the FIFA presidency in March, according to a Reuters report carried by The Guardian. The report said Tashima will stand against Gianni Infantino, who is seeking re-election.
The same Reuters report said Infantino has faced opposition since a failed move in July to bring private investors into a new FIFA commercial entity that holds rights. The Guardian's summary does not describe that proposal further or name the investors.
Reuters also said Tashima says he brings an "honest, sound, upright attitude" to his candidacy. The summary does not give further detail on his platform.
ABC News, citing Japanese media reports, said Tashima intends to run for FIFA president against Infantino. The ABC News account describes Tashima as a FIFA Council member, a role that the Reuters and BBC summaries do not mention. ABC News also spells his first name "Kohzo," while the other two accounts use "Kozo."
BBC News reported that Tashima has announced his candidacy for FIFA's upcoming presidential election. The BBC summary does not give a month for the vote or for the announcement.
The accounts agree on the core facts: Tashima, the head of the Japan Football Association, is seeking the FIFA presidency against Infantino. They differ on how the candidacy became known. Reuters says Tashima said he would run, BBC News says he announced his candidacy, and ABC News attributes its report to Japanese media. Only the Reuters account gives the March timing for his run.
Sources: The Guardian: Japan FA head Kozo Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency; ABC News: FIFA Council member Tashima to run against Infantino, Japanese media report; BBC News: Japan's Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency.