—-FIFA Appoint 16 Soccer Stars on ‘FIFA VOICE PANEL ‘
FIFA has appointed a 16-member Players’ Voice Panel to tackle racism in football, FIFA Launched Players’ Voice Panel on Friday featuring high-profile players like George Weah and Didier Drogba.
The diverse panel, comprising men and women from 14 countries, will advise on anti-racism strategies, participate in educational programs, and contribute to reforms in the sport.
The panel’s objectives include providing guidance on effective measures to combat racism, promoting inclusivity and respect through education, and driving policy changes to address systemic issues.
Notable panel members include George Weah, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mercy Akide, Formiga, and Briana Scurry. FIFA’s initiative aims to create a more inclusive and respectful environment in football, with President Gianni Infantino emphasizing the importance of player involvement in driving change. The panel will support education and promote new ideas.
The Fifa Panel consists of Representatives from 14 Member Associations and six confederations, each passionately driven to end racism in football.
Its mission will be to participate in the Global Stand Against Racism, monitor and advise on anti-racism strategies, participate in educational initiatives and provide input for reforms. Members to advise on anti-racism initiatives and champion the No Racism campaign by sharing personal stories
The line-up of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel revealed, with the 16-strong group comprising legends of the men’s and women’s games, each of whom is fully committed to bringing an end to racism in football.
Established under pillar 5 of FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism – which was unanimously adopted by the 211 FIFA Member Associations at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on 17 May 2024 – the Players’ Voice Panel line-up is as follows: honorary captain George Weah (Liberia), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Mercy Akide (Nigeria), Iván Córdoba (Colombia), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal), Formiga (Brazil), Jessica Houara (France), Maia Jackman (New Zealand), Sun Jihai (China PR), Blaise Matuidi (France), Aya Miyama (Japan), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Briana Scurry (United States), Mikaël Silvestre (France) and Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina).
“The Players’ Voice Panel is the result of the unanimous vote by all 211 FIFA Member Associations who, through the Global Stand Against Racism, have made clear that the world is united against the scourge of racism in our game. As part of this, and for the first time ever, we will have players at the heart of the movement required to make this change a reality,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We are very fortunate to have such impassioned and prominent individuals, each of whom brings their own unique and individual experiences.
“These 16 panel members will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change. They will further push for a shift in football culture, making sure measures to counter racism are not just talked about, but actioned, both on and off the pitch.” “Let’s be clear on this: Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong – they are crimes. All incidents of racism, whether in stadiums or online, must be fully punished both by football and across society.” The panel members will play an instrumental role in educating various groups – including players participating in FIFA youth tournaments – about racism. Focusing on the effect that this abuse has on players, other individuals and football as a sport, the panel will offer support and practical advice on how to join them in taking a stand against what, in many countries, are criminal acts. The members will also work to raise awareness of the recently enhanced measures against racism, as approved by the FIFA Council, in their regions. “Football brings unity and development. It also enhances humanity,” said honorary captain George Weah. “I will always exert all efforts, as I have done in the past and continue to do, to promote the sport because football is life. I am honored to serve in this role.”
FIFA has since taken meaningful action across all five pillars, such as the recent updates to the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) under pillar 1, which include increased fines and stronger accountability. The maximum fine has increased significantly, with the limit now set at CHF 5,000,000, and players and officials may now assist in identifying perpetrators of racist abuse. The three-step anti-discrimination procedure has been included in article 15 of the FDC, with specific racism-countering measures, including the No Racism Gesture (pillar 2). To ensure consistent enforcement, all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) must now adapt their disciplinary provisions to bring them in line with the general principles of the FDC. Meanwhile, FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service continues to facilitate the exchange of evidence packs following the conclusion of FIFA tournaments, to assist with any country-level prosecution, under pillar 3. Over 100 evidence packs have been distributed to date, while the service has analyzed 33 million posts and comments across more than 15,000 social media accounts since its launch at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ in Qatar.
