FIFA has, over the years, taken a strong stand in the fight against racism with several campaigns and strategies.
In 2024, a “Global Stand Against Racism” initiative was launched and approved, ensuring a zero-tolerance approach across all FIFA Member Associations.
Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations, reaffirmed this commitment while speaking at a United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) panel to explain how FIFA is tackling racism, emphasising that education is a key to removing the scourge from the game.
“No sports organisation takes these measures that we do. This is also our responsibility,” he said. “We take that with pride, but we need partners across the world, across all the institutions.”
Fernandez added, “We strongly think that education is the most important pillar that we’ve got in this fight. It’s not that we cannot change adults, but it’s more difficult. We will have more impact by educating young people through our competition, but also through the youth set-up of the various countries.
“The vision of our President is clear. It’s to get rid of racism in football, but also to encourage society to get rid of it. He is strongly committed and gives us his energy.”
It should be noted that the just-concluded 76th FIFA Congress in Canada passed a new resolution in regard to racism.
The FIFA Council approved an amendment to the Laws of the Game to allow red cards to be shown to players who cover their mouths to conceal discriminatory behaviour, a change that will be put into effect in all FIFA competitions beginning with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
Gerd Dembowski, FIFA Head of Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination, also explained to the panel, among other things the measures which FIFA has taken inculding the FIFA Disciplinary Code which has been amended to give match officials power to stop games while the No Racism Gesture is now in place at all FIFA tournaments and more than 12,000 individuals and 570 teams have been protected via the FIFA Social Media Protection Service.
