Ex-Spurs player Vega set to run for Fifa president

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega, 55, has announced his intention to stand as a candidate in next year’s FIFA presidential election. The former Switzerland international, who also played for Celtic and Watford and has worked in business since retiring from football in 2004, said he aims to reunite the global football family, deliver genuine and lasting reform, modernise FIFA for the 21st century, rebuild stability and credibility, and restore the trust the sport urgently needs. “I am standing to reunite the global football family, bring genuine and lasting reform, modernise FIFA for the 21st Century, rebuild stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust that our game urgently needs,” Vega said. He added that football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators, insisting the sport is greater than any position, any individual or any institution. “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,” he continued. “It belongs to every child discovering the game, every professional carrying the hopes of a nation, and the billions of supporters whose passion makes football the world's game.” Vega warned that politics has fractured the football family for too long, arguing that the current administration has demoralised the sport, weakened governance, damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football community. “We must stop this struggle from escalating,” he said. He also cautioned that ego‑driven battles within football administration must never be allowed to harm players, coaches, referees and supporters worldwide, noting that those groups are not responsible for such conflicts and deserve better. “Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new focus and fundamental reform,” Vega declared. “We must reunite the football family, rebuild trust, bring stability and modernise FIFA's governance. This requires decisive change - not cosmetic adjustments.” In a statement announcing his candidacy, Vega said, “I am standing because my life has prepared me to serve the game.” The announcement comes after UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation called for incumbent president Gianni Infantino to step down, despite Infantino declaring he was “fully committed to leading FIFA.” Vega previously contemplated a run for FIFA’s top post in 2015 after the suspension of former president Sepp Blatter. Four years later he said he would challenge Infantino but failed to secure the backing of five of FIFA’s 211 member federations needed to appear on the ballot. Read the full story at BBC News →