Vega confident he can take FIFA fight to Infantino
Former Switzerland captain Ramon Vega believes his determination can carry him to victory in his campaign for the FIFA presidency. The 55-year-old ex-central defender, who won the League Cup with Tottenham Hotspur in 1999 despite playing the final with a broken ankle, has no doubts he can topple Gianni Infantino next March when FIFA's 211 member federations decide who will lead world soccer for the next four years. Vega says his combination of playing experience, business acumen and integrity makes him the best man to bring together supporters, administrators and players.
To get on the ballot paper, Vega has to win the backing of at least five national federations ahead of next Wednesday’s deadline for nominations, as well as demonstrate he has recently worked in a soccer role. Although he will not reveal who is endorsing him, Vega says he has backing across every continent, having spent a large amount of his own money in the last decade visiting more than 140 countries to canvass support.
"If as a football player I go to a cup final and I believe I'm going to lose, I'd better hang my boots up before I go to Wembley Stadium," Vega said. "The election is the same philosophy. I'm here to win. You need to have courage and determination." "When I won the League Cup I played with a broken ankle for 90 minutes, so that gives you the answer if I want to win or not. I will go all the way to make sure we are winning for the sake of the game."
Vega says he has no personal grudge against the 56-year-old Infantino, but that his fellow Swiss had become an autocrat driven by his own ego. "Let's be honest, selling off the World Cup behind the back of the FIFA Council, the whole FIFA family, it's a full betrayal," he said. "Morally and ethically it is unacceptable." Infantino has accepted that he made mistakes in the way he communicated the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and indicated he would be open to an independent review of FIFA's governance system.
Vega was the first to emerge as a potential rival when he announced he would stand a month ago, with Japan's former FA chief Kozo Tashima the only other declared runner since. "Historically, FIFA has never had a player at the top. I was a supporter, I came inside as a player, now I am a supporter again. I have empathy and that's why I'm ready to serve the game and unite all of these people," Vega said. Infantino remains favourite to win a fourth term in power after shoring up support in recent months, while European soccer governing body UEFA is still searching for another challenger before the deadline.