"Even Switzerland, Incipitino's homeland, has turned its back" — Support withdrawn → Former national team player also challenges for presidency... "Football does not belong to the president"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Pressure on Gianni Infantino, President of the International Football Association Board (FIFA), is intensifying. Coincidentally, cracks are widening from his own country, Switzerland.

Reuters reported on the 7th (local time) that "former defender Ramon Vega, who played for Tottenham, has expressed his intention to face fellow Swiss national In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) in next year's FIFA presidential election."

Vega is the first person to publicly declare a challenge against In Pan-ti-no (Chairman).

Born in 1971, Vega represented the Switzerland national team from 1993 to 2001. At the club level, he played for Italy's Cagliari, England's Tottenham and Watford, and Scotland's Celtic FC, among others.

He experienced a League Cup victory with Tottenham in 1999, and contributed to Celtic FC's achievement of the treble—winning the Scottish league, Scottish Cup, and League Cup—in the 2000-2001 season.

Along with his candidacy announcement, Vega strongly criticized the current FIFA leadership. He stated, "My goal is clear: to serve football and the people who bring life to this sport."

He added, "I want to reunite the global football family and pursue sincere and sustained reform," emphasizing that "FIFA must be modernized for the 21st century and restore stability and trust."

According to reports, Vega considered running in the FIFA presidential elections in 2015, 2019, and 2022, but this is the first time he has publicly declared his intention to run.

In particular, he directly targeted the Infantino regime. Vega raised his voice, saying, "Football does not belong to the president, continental confederations, or administrators. Football is greater than any position, individual, or institutional investor."

He continued, "Football is a sport of the people. It belongs to players, coaches, referees, fans, volunteers, clubs, leagues, football associations, and all communities that bring life to football."

He further claimed, "The current leadership has dampened morale in the football world," adding that "a flawed governance structure has undermined FIFA's credibility and destroyed the trust of the global football community."

What is even more painful for In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) is that Vega is also a Swiss national.

Previously, last month, the Swiss Football Association also withdrew its support for In Pan-ti-no (Chairman)'s candidacy in the next FIFA presidential election. The reasons cited were concerns regarding FIFA's leadership, governance structure, transparency, and decision-making processes.

It is not just Switzerland. Football associations from several European countries, including England, Wales, France, and Serbia, have also withdrawn their support for In Pan-ti-no (Chairman).

With former national team player Vega, also a Swiss national, throwing down the gauntlet for the FIFA presidency, pressure on In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) is growing even further.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original