Japan FA vice-president Takeshi Okada resigns over FIFA World Cup controversies
Takeshi Okada coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups. | Photo Credit: AFP
Takeshi Okada coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups. | Photo Credit: AFP
Takeshi Okada, vice president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), resigned on Wednesday, citing a conflict between his personal values and the response to recent controversies surrounding FIFA and the World Cup.
Okada, who coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, stepped down a week after Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa backed Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president.
The endorsement came weeks after the AFC joined European and North American football bodies in criticising Infantino’s proposal to open FIFA’s premium competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, apologised after the investment plan collapsed. He is seeking a fourth and final term in an election scheduled for March.
Okada said his resignation was entirely voluntary, adding that he had reached the decision after careful deliberation.
“Throughout my career I have treasured the social value of sport based on my conviction that sport must be conducted with integrity,” he said.
“However, with regard to the series of responses surrounding the recent FIFA World Cup, there is a significant gap between those responses and my own beliefs, and as a sportsman I cannot accept them.”
Two months ago, the AFC and Sheikh Salman had signalled a possible shift in their stance towards Infantino. A joint letter with UEFA and CONCACAF stated that football “belongs to no individual”.
Okada acknowledged the practical reasons for aligning Japan’s position with the AFC, given their relationship and the implications for Japanese football, but said the responses to the controversies conflicted with his principles.
Published on Oct 28, 2026
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