Former Celtic defender confirms ambitious bid to become next FIFA president
· Yahoo Sports
Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega has launched a bid to become the next president of FIFA.
26 May 2001: Celtic duo Ramon Vega (left) and Paul Lambert celebrate their Scottish cup final win against Hibernian at Hampden Photo: Michael Steele /Allsport
The Swiss ex-international, who spent six months on loan at Parkhead in 2001, confirmed his candidacy this week as he looks to challenge for one of the most powerful positions in world football.
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Vega previously attempted to enter the presidential races in 2015, 2019 and 2022 but failed to secure the backing of the five national federations required to officially stand.
This time, however, the former Celtic centre-back claims he has the necessary support.
Current president Gianni Infantino intends to stand again, while UEFA president Alexander Ceferin has also been tipped as a potential future candidate.
Explaining his decision to enter the race, Vega told the Daily Mirror:“Football is woven into the very fabric of my being. I’m standing because my life prepared me to serve the game. I was a defender on the field. I am ready to defend the game — its integrity, its people and its future.
“In 2022, I said that when the football community and wider society were ready for real reform, I would be ready to lead and coordinate that change. Four years later, I am still here. My commitment has not changed, and the time has come.
“I am not standing to continue the war. I am standing to end it. Football needs dialogue, stability and unity. We may not agree on everything, but we must find common ground and put the interests of the game before individual interests.
“Before the World Cup, I had already communicated my intention to stand for the FIFA presidency to one of FIFA’s vice presidents. This candidacy is therefore not a sudden decision. It is the result of years of preparation, dialogue and commitment.
“Football is the people’s game. It belongs to everyone – players, coaches, referees, volunteers, communities and the billions of fans who give the game its soul.
“For a long time, I have felt that it is our destiny to serve – to serve football, to serve its people and to leave a legacy for generations to come.
“Football taught me that the game is far more than a sport. It is a source of identity, unity and hope for billions of people.
“My journey did not end on the pitch. For the past 25 years, I have built a career in the financial industry in London and globally, working with businesses across different continents, languages and cultures.
“Football is facing a serious crisis of trust and credibility. The current leadership has demoralised the game. Dictatorship, intimidation and blackmail have divided member associations.
“We cannot allow battles of egos within football administration to damage the players, coaches, referees and billions of supporters who deserve better. Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer.
“Power-driven individuals must never again be allowed to govern our game. No individual or institution is greater than football itself. The President must serve FIFA – not control it.
“I have come in the spirit of fair play – not merely to criticise, but to unite all those who work for the game, play the game and love the game.
“The game belongs to the people. The fans are being priced out. The game is losing its soul.”
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