Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has stepped forward to challenge Gianni Infantino to become the most powerful person in world football.The election to determine the next FIFA president will be held in March of next year, with all member associations getting a vote. The entire process is strictly governed by the FIFA Statutes and FIFA Governance Regulations.Vega has now stepped forward to challenge the incumbent, Infantino. He has now launched an 11-page manifesto explaining why he is the right man to become the new chief of world football.The Swiss defender, who spent four years at White Hart Lane and was part of the League Cup-winning side in 1998-99, has built a career in international finance and governance post-retirement.Photo by Daniel Smith/Getty Images for SoccerexFormer Tottenham star Ramon Vega says football is ‘facing a crisis of trust’The 55-year-old made it clear that his candidacy will focus on restoring trust in FIFA, strengthening institutional governance, and protecting the independence and dignity of its member associations.He also spoke about the need to ensure a fairer and more effective distribution of football’s financial resources, and creating a more transparent and inclusive decision-making system.Vega’s manifesto reads (via The Mirror): “Football is woven into the very fabric of my being. I’m standing because my life prepared me to serve the game. The game has been left facing a serious crisis of trust and identity. 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.“At the heart of my campaign is my Hungarian wife and First Lady, Claudia — my partner throughout this mission and a woman with her own remarkable history in football. More than 25 years ago, when very few women worked at the highest levels of the men’s professional game, she was already breaking barriers — working in technical and operational roles and sitting on the bench in men’s UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and international competition. Her experience extends from technical operations and the pitch to the boardroom and football diplomacy.”Vega says he has the support to go up against Gianni InfantinoEven though we are only months away from the election, so far, there has been no clear favourite to challenge Infantino, with November 18 being the deadline to stand as a candidate.Any candidate requires the backing of at least five federations, and the former Tottenham defender believes he has the required support to win, calling on power-driven individuals to be removed from the game’s governance.His manifesto added: “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.“Football needs fundamental reform, restored trust and stability — not cosmetic adjustments. We cannot heal division through boycotts that only create more damage and deepen the divide. We must answer challenges with solutions, not confrontation. I have a duty and a social responsibility to protect and defend the game. I come from the game, I stand for the game, and I will fight for the game.”READ MORE: Predicted Tottenham XI vs Man United as James Maddison finally starts a gameThe post ‘I will fight for the game’ – Former Tottenham star launches 2027 FIFA presidential bid appeared first on Spurs Web.