Ex-Cagliari and Tottenham defender Vega running for FIFA President
Former Cagliari and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega announced he intends to run as a candidate for FIFA President against Gianni Infantino.
The 55-year-old played his international football for Switzerland with two goals in 23 senior caps.
He wore the Cagliari jersey in Serie A for the 1996-97 campaign, then was sold to Tottenham Hotspur, going on to play for Celtic, Watford and Creteil before retirement in 2023.
Infantino, who is also Swiss, has faced multiple calls for him to step down after a series of scandals, the biggest of which was his failed attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
One of the main problems for critics of Infantino has been finding a suitable candidate to run against him, and Vega feels this can be his opportunity.
“I am standing to reunite the global football family, deliver genuine and lasting reform, modernise Fifa for the 21st Century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust that our game urgently needs,” Vega announced in a statement.
Vega not new to FIFA ambitions
This isn’t the first time, nor the second, that Vega has tried to run for the role of FIFA President.
He considered it in 2015 after Sepp Blatter’s suspension, then four later said he would run against Infantino, but couldn’t even get the backing of five out of the 211 member federations.
“Football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is greater than any position, any individual or any institution,” declared Vega in his statement.
“It is the people’s game and belongs to everyone: the players, coaches, referees, supporters, volunteers, clubs, leagues, associations and communities that give football its life.
“Football must always come first. Yet for too long, division has fractured our football family. The current leadership has demoralised the game. Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family. We must stop this conflict from escalating.
“Ego-driven battles within football administration must never be allowed to damage those who matter most: the players, coaches, referees and supporters around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better.”
Vega made 15 competitive appearances in the Cagliari jersey between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
