Gianni Infantino to face biggest FIFA survival challenge yet amid push for Arsene Wenger to stand

Japan’s Football Association president Kozo Tashima has announced he will run against Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in March. Infantino has been under mounting pressure since his failed bid to sell stakes in the World Cup . Prior to this summer’s tournament, the expectation was that Infantino would be run unopposed and get re-elected without a challenge. However, multiple governing bodies have withdrawn their support globally, including UEFA , who held talks over a vote of no confidence. European football’s governing body are set to put forward a rival candidate of their own. Despite the backlash to his abandoned plans, Infantino is still set to contest the next election that will take place in Rabat, Morocco. But this arguably represents the biggest challenge to his future as FIFA president to date. Tashima announces bid Tashima told Sports Nippon: “I am grateful that I can make this announcement with the full support of the JFA. “It’s not about winning or losing but about conveying ​to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built. “What FIFA ⁠needs now are these values that ​we ​have protected. I ​have decided to run in ​order ‌to make ​this ​appeal to the world.” Candidates need formal support from five of FIFA’s 211 members in order to stand in the election, with the Japanese FA already backing him. talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs said: “He is currently backed by his own FA and requires four more to make the candidacy official. This is not anticipated to be a problem. “Tashima says he is not solely focused on winning but clearly communicating to the world the honesty, soundness and integrity of world football. “Tashima is the first candidate to come forward with official FA backing and he has some support already from within UEFA, according to talkSPORT sources. “He could be backed more widely if another name doesn’t also come forward. And yet talkSPORT understands UEFA’s national associations remain in talks about putting forward another name. “UEFA were aware of Tashima’s candidacy and there are many within Europe’s governing body that feel a name from outside of UEFA will stand a better chance of rivalling Gianni Infantino . “The deadline for candidates to stand is November 18th.” Who is Kozo Tashima? talkSPORT co-host Simon Jordan was left underwhelmed by Tashima’s decision to stand. Jordan said: “Tashima is low profile, because no one cares about Japanese football and he’s in the background of FIFA. “So now he might be in the situation where he becomes someone who governs the world’s game. “Let’s see how much of a shrinking violet he is then.” What about Arsene Wenger? talkSPORT understands senior UEFA figures are still trying to persuade Arsene Wenger to stand. Wenger would be the preferred candidate but other names have also been explored as Europe’s governing body hope to announce a candidate by, at the latest, next week. The 77-year-old currently serves as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development. Jordan added: “Wenger [should stand]. Even though he stands on the wrong side regarding age, in all due respect to his vitality and his intelligence – I think he would still be very credible. “I think he’s got the energy and the vitality at this stage in his life to do this, this is not just a job, this is politics and a whole manner of things such as tradeoffs and commerce that no one really knows. “The only people who really know are those inside the organisation.”