Ramon Vega Launches FIFA Presidency Bid Against Gianni Infantino
Former Switzerland international Ramon Vega has launched a bid to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, becoming the first declared candidate to oppose the incumbent before next year’s election at the FIFA Congress in March.
Vega begins another push for the FIFA presidency
- Vega set out his candidacy in an 11-page document released on Wednesday, arguing that football should serve its global community rather than its leading office-holders or governing bodies.
- The 23-cap former Switzerland defender, who played club football for Celtic and Watford before moving largely into finance after retirement, said he felt prepared to take responsibility for the game.
- He accused FIFA’s present leadership of weakening confidence in the organisation, saying governance failures had harmed its standing across world football.
- Vega said reform could not be delayed, describing football as being in a critical condition and calling for a reunified football community, greater stability and a modernised FIFA structure.
The campaign is not Vega’s first attempt to enter the presidential race. He considered bids in 2015, 2019 and 2022, but did not obtain the support needed to become a formal candidate on those occasions.
He must now receive nominations from at least five FIFA member associations by November 18 to secure a place on the ballot. The deadline leaves Vega with limited time to turn his public declaration into a qualifying challenge.
European pressure on Infantino
Infantino is under growing strain from UEFA after a proposed private investment arrangement collapsed. The plan had envisaged selling a minority interest in FIFA’s commercial and event businesses, but its abandonment seriously affected Infantino’s relationship with European football’s leading figures.
UEFA has openly sought an alternative to the FIFA president and is due to hold a strategy meeting in Berlin on Thursday. Vega’s entry gives those dissatisfied with Infantino a declared contender, although his candidacy remains dependent on securing the required federation backing before November’s cut-off.
With the FIFA Congress scheduled for March, the contest now moves to the nomination stage, with UEFA’s position and Vega’s ability to assemble support likely to shape whether Infantino faces an opponent in the election.
