"Power Play: FIFA and the Puzzle of Political Football"
FIFA Gives Clear Signal, Bringing Joy to Infantino
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Football fans were left scratching their heads recently when a clear message against racism mysteriously vanished from stadiums during FIFA events. But don't worry, Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, is thrilled to announce that the message has returned - at least for a day.
Infantino took to Instagram to express FIFA's ongoing commitment to combat racism on and off the pitch. "Today, on the International Day against Hate Speech, I was relieved to see FIFA demonstrate its dedication to eradicating racism at today's Club World Cup matches," he said. "We'll keep using football's power to reshape our game and society for the better."
Not so long ago, FIFA raised eyebrows when they absent-mindedly replaced the usual "No Racism" and "No Discrimination" messages with the "Football Unites the World" campaign in stadiums. Some accused FIFA of preemptively bending to the political whims of US President Donald Trump, who shortly after taking office, ended federal programs focused on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI). Many organizations and institutions followed suit, and even the NFL opted to omit the "End Racism" slogan from Super Bowl end zones for the first time since 2021.
Piara Powar, executive director of FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe), told the BBC, "It's disheartening that there are no anti-discrimination messages at the Club World Cup this year. These messages have gained a positive response from fans, players, and society in the past. It's a real shame that a message of unity can't be shared with the world."
However, the "No Racism" slogan has since made a brief comeback - though only for a day - to honor the International Day against Hate Speech.
In May at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Infantino presented a five-point plan for all 211 member associations to actively combat racism. One key measure: the introduction of a universal hand gesture against racist abuse. "Ever since then, this hand gesture (arms crossed at the wrists) has been a part of the protocol at every FIFA tournament, including the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup," Infantino revealed.
The hand gesture empowers players, team officials, and referees to stand up against racism by signaling to the referee when they are being racially abused, triggering a three-step action plan. If the abuse persists, this plan could ultimately lead to the match being abandoned.
Off the pitch, FIFA's Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) safeguards players, coaches, and officials from online abuse. The service has defended 32 participating teams and 2019 accounts since its introduction at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It has been active at 23 tournaments and friendly matches, screens over 33 million posts and comments, and shields over 10 million offensive comments from public view, saving targeted individuals, their families, friends, and followers from hate speech and potential psychological distress.
Source: ntv.de, ter
Extra Insight:FIFA's decision to remove anti-racism messaging from stadiums during the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States provoked a wave of criticism, as many saw it as a concession to the political climate in the host country. The Trump administration's crackdown on DEI initiatives seemed to have influenced FIFA's apparent decision to sideline anti-racism campaigns during major tournaments. However, following intense fan backlash, FIFA reinstated the anti-racism messaging temporarily for one day to acknowledge the International Day against Hate Speech. Anti-racism organizations and fans deemed this move insufficient, as it was seen as more of a symbolic gesture rather than a solid commitment to combat racism. [1][3]
[1]: "FIFA's Removal of Anti-Racism Messages at 2025 Club World Cup Sparks Controversy." https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/12/fifas-removal-of-anti-racism-messages-at-2025-club-world-cup-sparks-controversy
[3]: "FIFA Under Fire for Removing Anti-Racism Messages from Club World Cup." https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fifa-anti-racism-messages-club-world-cup-b1800759.html
community policy should include measures to address instances of hate speech and discrimination both on and off the football field, following FIFA's commitment to eradicate racism.Employment policy within sports organizations should prioritize diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as demonstrated by the NFL's minimalist approach to the "End Racism" slogan.
