Takeshi Okada has resigned as a vice president of the Japan Football Association, the JFA announced on Oct. 28. The resignation was dated Oct. 24.
Okada, a former coach of the Japan national team, served as JFA vice president from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2022. He left partway through his term in protest at the federation's handling of matters surrounding FIFA, including its presidential election.
In a statement, Okada said the federation's response to a series of World Cup-related issues was too far from his own convictions. "As one sportsman I could not accept it, and that led to this decision," he said.
Federation lines up behind Infantino
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term in the March election, has drawn criticism, mainly from Europe. Associations have withdrawn support over a review of a suspension handed to a US forward — a case in which intervention by US President Donald Trump was also suspected — and over a plan to set up a subsidiary that would run the World Cup.
The Asian Football Confederation held an extraordinary general congress on Oct. 23, where AFC president Sheikh Salman declared his support for Infantino. JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said the AFC's position was "our basic stance," suggesting Japan could align with it.
Okada decided to resign shortly after Miyamoto set out that direction. "I have always valued sport's social value, under the conviction that sport should be noble," he said. "I am very sorry about this, but I hope you will understand it as a decision made after much deliberation."
“As one sportsman I could not accept it, and that led to this decision.”Takeshi Okada, former JFA vice president