Takeshi Okada, who coached Japan at two World Cups, has quit as vice president of the Japan Football Association over concerns about FIFA, the Associated Press and CNA report.

The Japanese federation published his resignation statement on Wednesday. "As a sportsman, I cannot accept this," Okada wrote of the actions around this year's World Cup. He said sport should "embody integrity."

The move followed a shift by the Asian Football Confederation. Its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, said the group would now back FIFA president Gianni Infantino's bid for reelection. Infantino is seeking another term at an election in March.

The AP reports Okada's statement was dated Saturday, a day after the confederation's turn. CNA reports the resignation came a week after the endorsement, which was made at a meeting in Tokyo.

The endorsement was a sharp change, CNA reports. Three months earlier, the confederation had accused FIFA of a "fundamental breach of trust" over a failed plan to sell a stake in its competitions. The AP reports the plan involved selling a share of World Cup profits to private investors. Infantino later apologized for the plan, CNA reports.

Okada said he understood "there are practical reasons for aligning" with the confederation, given Japan's ties to it.

Okada, 70, coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, the AP reports. CNA reports he led the team to the last 16 in South Africa in 2010.

The AP reports the Asian confederation has 46 of FIFA's 211 member federations. Support from Asia could be key to Infantino's bid, CNA reports.

What we know: Okada has resigned from the Japanese federation over FIFA concerns.
What we don't: Whether other officials in Asia will follow his lead.