FIFA has announced a comprehensive five-pillar plan aimed at eradicating racism from football, to be presented at its annual congress in Bangkok on Thursday. The initiative follows extensive consultations with current and former players dedicated to fostering change.
One notable proposal includes the introduction of a standardized crossed-hands gesture for players to signal racist incidents during matches. FIFA’s “Global Stand Against Racism” plan aims to create a unified response to racist abuse across its 211 member associations.
The first pillar of the plan proposes making racism a specific offense in all member associations’ disciplinary codes, accompanied by severe sanctions, including match forfeits.
FIFA emphasized its commitment to “pause, suspend, and abandon games in cases of racism.”
The crossed-hands gesture will be used by referees to initiate an in-game procedure, pausing matches twice and issuing warnings before abandoning the game if racist behavior persists.
Pillar three addresses legal actions, calling for racism to be recognized as a criminal offense worldwide and advocating for stringent penalties in countries where it is already an offense. Additionally, FIFA plans to promote educational initiatives with schools and governments to cultivate a future free of racism.
An anti-racism panel comprised of former players will be established to monitor the progress of these proposals. This comes in response to recent high-profile incidents, such as Brazil and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr’s repeated experiences with racist abuse, which he said have made him feel “less and less” like playing football.
A 2022 FIFA report revealed nearly 20,000 abusive social media posts targeted at players, coaches, and officials during the World Cup in Qatar. Similarly, England manager Gareth Southgate described the racist abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 final as “unforgivable.”
However, FIFA’s proposals have faced criticism from anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. CEO Tony Burnett remarked that the plans “lack detail” and criticized the expectation for players to devise solutions. “Rather than introducing new hand gestures, FIFA should focus on empowering players and their management to leave the pitch when they feel it’s appropriate,” Burnett stated, also highlighting the need for better education for referees.
FIFA’s five-pillar plan represents a significant effort to tackle racism in football, aiming for systemic change through stringent policies, legal actions, and educational initiatives. The success of these proposals will depend on their implementation and the ongoing commitment of the global football community.