Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega to oppose Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency

Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega says he will challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency.

Vega, 55, who featured for Switzerland at Euro 96 in England and played for Spurs between 1997 and 2001, becomes the first person to go public with their intention to go up against Infantino.

The current FIFA president intends to stand for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress next March, but is under pressure after a private investor plan was rejected by three confederations and subsequently abandoned. Among the confederations which rejected it was European football’s governing body UEFA, which says it has lost confidence in Infantino.

Vega has become the first person to offer themselves up as a candidate against Infantino, and said in a statement: “I am standing because my life has prepared me to serve the game.

“I stand before the global football family with humility, determination and a profound sense of responsibility.

“Football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is greater than any position, any individual or any institution.

“Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new direction and fundamental reform.”

Football association presidents and general secretaries from across Europe are gathering in Berlin ahead of a UEFA Top Executive Programme (TEP) meeting on Thursday, where the topic of FIFA and its governance will be on the morning agenda.

A number of European associations – including those of England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales – have withdrawn their support for Infantino following the emergence of the plan to seek private investment in a commercial vehicle to run the World Cup.

There is also deep discontent around the handling of the Folarin Balogun case at the World Cup, while it has been reported this week that the FIFA administration ignored the advice of its own lawyers and allowed DR Congo to play in an intercontinental play-off despite goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi being ineligible. FIFA has so far not responded to a request to comment regarding that matter.

The Press Association understands UEFA remains committed to identifying a credible alternative candidate to run against Infantino, but that it is unlikely any individual will be settled on at Thursday’s meeting. The deadline for candidates to be submitted is November 18.

While UEFA executives gather in Germany, Infantino is attempting to shore up his power base in Africa as he attends the Confederation of African Football (CAF) strategy conference in Cape Verde this week, alongside FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger.

He also enjoys strong support in South America, while a number of Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have indicated they will back him for the presidency.