‘I’m here to win’ – Ramon Vega fires warning to Gianni Infantino in FIFA presidential race

Former Switzerland international Ramon Vega insists he is entering the FIFA presidential race to win, declaring that the determination which helped him play through a broken ankle in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1999 League Cup triumph will drive his campaign to unseat Gianni Infantino.

The 55-year-old former defender is confident he can end Infantino’s grip on football’s top administrative office when FIFA’s 211 member associations vote in March 2027.

Vega, who has previously attempted to contest the presidency in 2015, 2019 and 2023, believes his experience as a professional footballer, business background and commitment to integrity make him a suitable candidate to lead the global game.

However, his immediate challenge is securing the backing of at least five national football associations before Wednesday’s nomination deadline. He must also demonstrate that he has recently held a role within football to satisfy the eligibility requirements.

Although he has declined to identify the federations supporting his bid, Vega claims his extensive travels have helped him establish relationships across the six continental confederations.

The former Tottenham defender says he has personally financed trips to more than 140 countries over the past decade as part of his efforts to build support for a presidential campaign.

Speaking to Reuters from Dubai, Vega made it clear that he has no intention of entering the contest simply to make up the numbers.

“I’m a football player, okay?” he told Reuters via Zoom from Dubai. “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.

“The election is the same philosophy. I’m here to win. You need to have courage and determination.

“If I look back on my own personal experience as a professional player, 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. I’m not interested about me. I’m defending the people’s game.”

Vega targets Infantino over FIFA governance and World Cup proposal

Vega’s presidential ambitions come amid growing debate over FIFA’s leadership and its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, had appeared set to face little opposition in his pursuit of another term. However, the emergence of the FFE proposal in July changed the conversation around the election.

The proposal reportedly involved selling stakes in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, attracting criticism from sections of the global football administration, particularly in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Vega has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of the initiative, accusing the FIFA president of failing to adequately consult the organisation’s governing structures.

While insisting he has no personal dispute with Infantino, the former Switzerland captain questioned the FIFA president’s leadership approach and accused him of prioritising his own interests.

“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. And if (Infantino) had the balls, he would go out in front of 200 cameras, put his hands up and say ‘yes, I made a mistake, I resign’.”

Infantino has acknowledged mistakes in how the FFE proposal was communicated and indicated his willingness to consider an independent review of FIFA’s governance system.

Former Tottenham defender wants players at the heart of FIFA leadership

Vega believes his background as a professional footballer gives him a different perspective on the challenges facing the sport.

The former defender made more than 60 Premier League appearances and also played in Italy’s Serie A with Cagliari before spending time at Celtic.

His most memorable achievement came in 1999 when he helped Tottenham win the League Cup despite playing the final with a broken ankle.

Since retiring in 2003, Vega has developed a successful business career and speaks six languages.

He argues that his experience across football and business, coupled with his understanding of supporters and players, positions him to bring different stakeholders together.

“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,” he said.

Vega was the first challenger to publicly declare his intention to contest the presidency, with former Japan Football Association chief Kozo Tashima also emerging as a declared candidate.

Infantino, meanwhile, continues to pursue another four-year term, with the contest expected to take shape as the nomination deadline approaches.