FIFA Launches 16-Member Players' Voice Panel to Combat Racism in Football
FIFA's new Players' Voice Panel, led by George Weah, aims to eradicate racism in football. Learn more about the panel's mission and members.
“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 honoured to serve in this role...”
FIFA's Anti-Racism Initiative
FIFA has launched a 16-member Players' Voice Panel to combat racism in football, led by former Ballon d'Or winner George Weah alongside football legends like Didier Drogba and Formiga. This diverse panel consists of men's and women's players from 14 countries, aiming to advise on anti-racism strategies, participate in educational programs, and contribute to reforms across the sport.
Key Objectives
The panel's primary role is to provide guidance on strategies to combat racism, support educational initiatives, and contribute to comprehensive reforms throughout the football world. They will focus on developing educational programs, implementing reforms, and engaging with fans to create a comprehensive strategy for combating racism in football.
FIFA's Commitment
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the organization's commitment to tackling racism head-on, stating that racism and discrimination are crimes that must be punished. The panel will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change.
“These 16 panel members will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“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.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino strongly condemned the racist abuse directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield last month. The incident, which led to a temporary stoppage of the game, drew widespread criticism, with Infantino affirming FIFA's zero-tolerance stance on racism and discrimination in football. Infantino emphasized that football has no place for racism, praising Semenyo's courage and performance on the pitch despite the adversity.
The Players' Voice Panel, established as part of FIFA's five-pillar framework against racism, will be in touch with Semenyo, offering support and working to ensure strong deterrents are in place to eradicate racism and discrimination from the game. Infantino reiterated FIFA's commitment to protecting players and ensuring competition organizers and law enforcement authorities take appropriate action.
In a show of solidarity, the football community stands firmly with Semenyo, recognizing his strength and dignity in the face of abuse. George Weah, the only African player to win the Ballon d'Or and former president of Liberia, highlights the positive impact of football, saying it “brings unity and development” and “enhances humanity.” This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts needed to combat racism in football.
“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 honoured to serve in this role,” he added.
FIFA's Updated Disciplinary Code
FIFA has introduced significant changes to its disciplinary code, effective June 1, 2025, to combat racism and discrimination in football. The updated code includes a new framework for handling incidents of racist abuse, empowers stakeholders to act, and enforces stricter penalties.
Increased Fines and Three-Step Procedure
The maximum fine for racist abuse has been increased to 5 million Swiss francs ($6.24 million), sending a strong message that discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated. A three-step anti-discrimination procedure has also been adopted, which involves:
Step 1: Public Announcement: The referee requests a public announcement to call for discriminatory behavior to cease.
Step 2: Match Suspension: The match is suspended until the behavior stops.
Step 3: Match Abandonment: In severe cases, the match may be abandoned altogether.
Additional Objectives
The updated code aims to:
Strengthen Ethical Conduct: Promote fairness, inclusivity, and accountability within the sport.
Protect Human Rights: Safeguard human rights and maintain the ethical foundation of football.
Empower Stakeholders: Give players, referees, coaches, and officials the authority to report racist behavior and assist in identifying perpetrators.
Implementation
All 211 FIFA Member Associations are required to update their disciplinary codes to align with FIFA's new regulations by December 31, 2025. FIFA reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if it believes sanctions for racist conduct are insufficient.
🚨 FIFA have launched the Players’ Voice Panel. Its aim is to champion FIFA’s global stand against racism.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) September 5, 2025
George Weah and Didier Drogba are among those on the 16-person panel.
George Weah (Liberia)
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
Mercy Akide (Nigeria)
Iván Córdoba (Colombia)… pic.twitter.com/wmLNBuSpOO
FIFA's Players' Voice Panel Lineup
The 16-member panel consists of renowned football personalities from around the world, including:
African Representatives:
- George Weah (Liberia) - Former Ballon d'Or winner and panel head
- Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - Former Chelsea striker
- Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) - Former Tottenham Hotspur striker
- Mercy Akide (Nigeria) - Former Nigerian footballer
- Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal) - Former Senegalese footballer
European Representatives:
- Ivan Cordoba (Colombia) - Former Inter Milan defender
- Jessica Houara (France) - Former French footballer
- Blaise Matuidi (France) - Former French footballer
- Mikael Silvestre (France) - Former French footballer
- Lotta Schelin (Sweden) - Former Swedish footballer
South American Representatives:
- Formiga (Brazil) - Brazilian Olympic stalwart
- Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina) - Former Argentine footballer
Asian Representative:
- Sun Jihai (China PR) - Former Chinese footballer
ceanian Representative:
- Maia Jackman (New Zealand) - Former New Zealand footballer
North American Representative:
- Briana Scurry (United States) - Former American goalkeeper
Japanese Representative:
- Aya Miyama (Japan) - Former Japanese footballer
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