In a landmark decision aimed at combating racial abuse in football, FIFA’s Secretary General announced a groundbreaking proposal to enforce mandatory penalties for instances of racism across all 211 member associations. Mattias Grafstrom, who assumed the role this week, unveiled the plan that includes comprehensive guidelines and sanctions, spanning from on-field actions to potential criminal charges.
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The proposal signifies a significant step forward in FIFA’s ongoing efforts to address the pervasive issue of racism in football. Our world football governing body is taking a strong stance in promoting inclusivity and eradicating discrimination within the sport.
“We… will make racism a specific offence with mandatory inclusion in the individual Disciplinary Codes of all 211 FIFA Member Associations, differentiating racism from other incidents, giving acts of racism their own specific and severe sanctions, including match forfeits,” Grafstrom said, with the proposal to be presented at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok on Friday.
“We will pause, suspend and abandon games in cases of racism, introducing a global standard gesture for players to communicate racist incidents and referees to signal the implementation of the three-step procedure.”
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In order to alert the referee to a racist occurrence, players raise their hands and cross their wrists. FIFA has implemented a three-step protocol wherein the referee can either seek a public notice to prevent such activity, pause the competition until it ceases, or, in certain cases, end the play altogether.
“We… will push for the recognition of racism as a criminal offence in every country in the world, and where already an offence, will push for prosecution with the severity it deserves,” FIFA added.
Anti-racism panel
FIFA will also create an anti-racism panel made up of former players and explore creating and promoting educational programmes with governments and schools.
Under this new initiative, member associations will be required to adhere to a set of guidelines specifically tailored to combat racial abuse. The guidelines will outline both preventative measures and strict penalties for any violations. Among the proposed penalties is the possibility of match forfeitures, signaling FIFA’s commitment to holding teams accountable for failing to address instances of racism within their ranks.
Racism has no place in football!
Furthermore, the plan includes provisions for on-field actions to be taken immediately following incidents of racial abuse. This proactive approach aims to empower referees and players to respond decisively in real-time, sending a clear message that racism has no place in football.
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In a bold move, FIFA is also considering the implementation of criminal charges for individuals found guilty of perpetuating racial abuse in football. By involving law enforcement authorities, FIFA intends to send a strong signal that those who engage in discriminatory behavior will face severe consequences both on and off the field.
Need of the proposal passage
The announcement of this proposal comes at a critical juncture, with instances of racism continuing to tarnish the image of the beautiful game. FIFA’s unwavering commitment to combatting racism sets a precedent for other sports organizations to follow suit and prioritize inclusivity and diversity in their respective sports.
As the global football community eagerly awaits the outcome of FIFA’s Congress deliberations on this proposal, it remains clear that concerted efforts are needed from all stakeholders to create a safe and welcoming environment for all participants and fans of the sport.
FIFA’s bold step to propose mandatory penalties for racial abuse in football represents a pivotal moment in the fight against discrimination in the sport. By taking a comprehensive approach that addresses both prevention and enforcement, FIFA is setting a new standard for accountability and inclusivity in world football.
