Photo/Illutration Tsuneyasu Miyamoto as head coach of J.League Gamba Osaka in 2021 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A former Samurai Blue defender nicknamed the “Batman” because he donned a black mask to protect his broken nose in the 2002 World Cup will become the new chief of the Japan Football Association.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, 46, is the sole and official candidate for the presidency of the organization, which will be vacant when Kozo Tashima, 66, retires after his term in office expires in March, the JFA said on Nov. 29.

Miyamoto currently serves as an executive director of the organization.

Those interested in running for the top position are required to obtain an endorsement from at least 16 members of the organization’s 79 trustees, who are representatives of J.League clubs and prefectural associations.

According to sources, Tokuaki Suzuki, 61, a senior J.League officer, wanted to run and worked to get endorsements, but he could not meet the requirement.

Therefore, there will be no election.

A vote of confidence will be held at a JFA board of trustees’ meeting on Dec. 24, and Miyamoto will be elected as the next president after the board of trustees’ meeting and board of directors’ meeting in March.

The last time an election for the JFA head position was held was in 2016, four terms ago.

In comparison to Suzuki, Miyamoto is well known, being a former captain of the Japanese national team.

He was a member of the Japanese squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup staged in Japan and South Korea that advanced to the round of 16 for the first time ever.

Miyamoto had his nose broken before the World Cup but played through the injury while wearing a black mask face guard, which earned him the “Batman” moniker internationally.

In his playing days, he played for Gamba Osaka, Red Bull Salzburg and Vissel Kobe. He served as head coach of Gamba Osaka.

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Tsuneyasu Miyamoto plays with a black face mask against Tunisia at the 2002 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2002, at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. The former Samurai Blue Japanese national team captain is likely to become the new president of the Japan Football Association next spring. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Miyamoto is also well-connected internationally.

For example, in post-retirement, Miyamoto studied at the FIFA Master graduate program, and one of his cohorts there has become an aide to Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA.

At the same time, some people have expressed concerns about Miyamoto's management ability, saying, “I don’t see a concrete plan for what he wants to achieve.”

Suzuki, on the other hand, is a practitioner and is well known among J.League circles and local communities.

One official said, “This time, Suzuki should be the president and Miyamoto, due to his age, would be next in line.”

A close race was expected in the event of an election, but Suzuki was unable to garner enough trustees' endorsements.

The JFA’s presidential election management committee gave a “preliminary evaluation” of both Miyamoto and Suzuki, scoring them based on their international visibility and contributions to the organization.

The scores are supposed to be a reference for endorsements and voting. Tashima also serves on the committee.

On Oct. 29, the day before the endorsement request period began, the trustees and their affiliated organizations were notified of the preliminary evaluation.

A JFA official said the evaluation was “fair and impartial,” and made by the committee that included outside experts.

According to multiple sources, Miyamoto's overall score was higher.

In addition to the two potential candidates, Takeshi Okada, 67, JFA vice president and a former Samurai Blue coach, was considered a serious contender to succeed Tashima as president.

Until this fall, JFA officials had been trying to persuade Okada to run for the position.

However, Okada said he wants to concentrate on his duties as chairman of FC Imabari, a J.League third-division club, and was adamant in his refusal.

The materials that Miyamoto brought to the trustees when he asked for their endorsements included a photo of himself shaking hands with Okada, and a page was devoted to a conversation between the two men.

One trustee said, “When you saw it, you’d think, ‘Ah, so that’s what this means.’”

Many in the organization perceived Miyamoto as the de facto successor to the current regime and the one “officially approved” by Okada.

Such were the interactions behind the failure of JFA to hold its first election for president since 2016.

Some officials questioned the fairness of the pre-evaluation and other mechanisms.

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