FIFA: who is Ramon Vega, the man who wants to challenge Infantino?

His name is still little known to the general public, but Ramon Vega could soon find himself at the centre of world football news. At 55, the former Switzerland defender has announced his intention to run for the FIFA presidency and challenge Gianni Infantino in the election scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat.

Who is Ramón Vega?

Born in Olten, Switzerland, to Spanish parents, Ramon Vega enjoyed an international career and several spells in Europe’s major leagues. Developed in Switzerland, he made a name for himself with Grasshoppers Zurich before continuing his career abroad. He played in Italy for Cagliari, then in England with Tottenham and Watford. He also wore the shirt of Celtic Glasgow.

With Tottenham, Vega won the League Cup in 1999. A few years later, he enjoyed further success with Celtic, with whom he won a domestic treble during the 2000–2001 season. A defender by trade, he also made 23 starts for the Switzerland national team and played at Euro 1996.

From the pitch to finance

After his playing career, Vega did not move away from the business world. He turned to finance and football consultancy, gradually developing a different understanding of the sports industry. It is this experience in particular that he now wants to highlight in support of his bid for the FIFA presidency.

His background allows him to present himself both as a former player and as someone who has worked in economic circles connected to football.

A presidential ambition that is not new

Vega’s desire to lead FIFA is not new. He had already tried to position himself in the 2015, 2019 and 2022 elections, without managing to become an official candidate. The main difficulty at the time was securing the support of at least five FIFA member associations.

This time, Vega told El País that he already has the necessary support, although he still refuses to reveal the identity of the associations concerned. “I already have them. Once we are officially in the race, we will be able to talk about who they are,” he told the Spanish newspaper.

What is Vega’s plan for FIFA?

In his 11-page manifesto, Vega advocates reforming the governance of world football. In particular, he wants to give players, coaches, clubs and leagues a greater say in decision-making processes. He also wants to review the international calendar in order to reduce the pressure placed on footballers.

The former Switzerland international also criticises several of FIFA’s recent economic decisions, notably ticket prices for the World Cup and the ultimately abandoned plan to market part of the competition’s rights to private investors. His stated aim is to build a more democratic organisation and restore confidence in the governing body.

A candidate still awaiting official confirmation

Ramon Vega is now the first rival to publicly announce his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino, who has been FIFA president since 2016. But before he can truly launch his campaign, he will have to clear the decisive administrative hurdle: submitting the required endorsements before 18 November.

The election is then scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat. After making several attempts to enter the race, the former Tottenham defender now wants to turn his experience in football into a genuine political project for the world governing body.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

World Cup

FIFA Club World Cup

AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

UEFA Nations League A

English Premier League