George Weah Leads FIFA 16-Member Panel Fighting Racism in Football

FIFA has established a 16-member Players’ Voice Panel to combat racism in football, led by former Ballon d’Or winner and ex-Liberian President George Weah. The panel, which includes football legends such as Didier Drogba and Olympic veteran Formiga, represents players from 14 countries across men's and women's football and will advise on anti-racism strategies, participate in educational programs, and help drive reforms throughout the sport. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that racism and discrimination are crimes demanding full punishment, whether they occur in stadiums or online, and highlighted the panel’s role in promoting education and shifting football culture towards lasting change. The initiative follows recent incidents of racial abuse, such as the case involving Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, with the panel set to provide support in such cases. FIFA has also updated its disciplinary code to increase fines for racist abuse up to 5 million Swiss francs and implemented a three-step anti-discrimination procedure allowing referees to take action including suspending or abandoning matches. Weah expressed honor in leading the panel and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting football as a unifying force and a reflection of life itself.