Former Liberian president Weah to lead Fifa racism task force

Friday 05 September 2025 4:51 pm

Fifa has introduced a 16-strong racism activity power made up of former gamers together with George Weah, Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Fellow ex-Premier League footballers Mickael Silvestre, Solar Jihai and Khalilou Fadiga are additionally a part of the Fifa Gamers’ Voice Panel, which is able to form coverage geared toward stamping out racism in any respect ranges of the sport.

Blaise Matuidi, Ivan Cordoba, Juan Pablo Sorin, Mercy Akide, Aya Miyama, Lotta Schelin and Briana Scurry full the line-up.

Weah, 58, has been named honorary captain of the panel, having translated his success as a Ballon d’Or profitable striker from soccer to politics in a six-year spell as president of his native Liberia.

“Soccer brings unity and improvement. It additionally enhances humanity,” stated the previous Chelsea, Manchester Metropolis, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco participant. 

“I’ll all the time exert all efforts, as I’ve achieved previously and proceed to do, to advertise the game as a result of soccer is life. I’m honoured to serve on this position.”

Fifa president Gianni Infantino stated: “These 16 panel members will help training in any respect ranges of the sport and promote new concepts for lasting change. 

“They’ll additional push for a shift in soccer tradition, ensuring measures to counter racism usually are not simply talked about, however actioned, each on and off the pitch.

“Let’s be clear on this: racism and discrimination usually are not merely incorrect – they’re crimes. All incidents of racism, whether or not in stadiums or on-line, should be totally punished each by soccer and throughout society.”

Fifa faces pink faces over Adebayor

Fifa has left itself open to embarrassment over the appointment of former Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Tottenham ahead Adebayor, nonetheless. 

Ought to the Gamers’ Voice Panel be invited to subsequent summer season’s World Cup, the Togolese might discover himself denied a visa to journey to the US based mostly on his nationality.

Togo is amongst seven international locations whose residents face vital journey restrictions to the US following an order enacted by President Trump in June.

Nationals from an extra 12 international locations, together with Iran, Afghanistan and Libya, are topic to bans in a transfer Trump stated was to “shield People from harmful overseas actors”.

Gamers and training workers from these international locations will be capable of enter the US for the event, which is being co-hosted with Mexico and Canada, however followers might not be capable of go to.

Iran are among the many nations to have already secured their place on the 2026 World Cup, which is increasing to 48 groups for the primary time.