Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega is first person to reveal he will challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency

Ex-Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has declared his intentions to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency.

The 55-year-old becomes the first person to go public in revealing his desire to go up against the current FIFA president.

The controversial Infantino plans to stand for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress next March, but faces a strong backlash still after trying and failing to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.

Three confederations rejected Infantino’s plan, which was then abandoned, with UEFA saying they had lost confidence in Infantino.

Vega, who played for Tottenham between 1997 and 2001, 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.’

It would be the former Switzerland defender’s second attempt to challenge Infantino after he failed to get the required five voting federations to support an application in 2019. It is unclear if Vega meets the eligibility test of having had a recognised role in football for at least two of the past five years.

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