"'No Racism' Games: Infantino Hails FIFA's Return to Anti-Discrimination Slogans
FIFA Provides Assurance to Infantino, Signaling Clarity in Matter at Hand
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link After a roaring controversy, "No Racism" messages are back on FIFA stadiums - at least for a day. FIFA President Gianni Infantino couldn't be happier.
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, has once again reaffirmed the organization's stand against racism and hate in football. In a post on Instagram, he expressed his delight at seeing FIFA promoting anti-discrimination messages during the Club World Cup matches. "Today, the International Day for the Elimination of Hate Speech, it's fantastic to see FIFA demonstrating its commitment to eradicating racism in football," he said.
Recently, the world football body faced criticism for not showcasing "No Racism" and "No Discrimination" messages in stadiums like previous tournaments. Instead, they introduced the "Football Unites the World" campaign. This move was perceived as a preemptive accommodation to the controversial stance of the then-U.S. President, Donald Trump, who had ordered an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal agencies shortly after taking office. Many corporate entities and institutions followed suit, and the NFL even stopped using the "End Racism" slogan at the Super Bowl for the first time since 2021.
Football FIFA's Wavering Anti-Discrimination Campaign Under the SpotlightPiara Powar, executive director of FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe), expressed disappointment about the lack of anti-discrimination messages at the Club World Cup. "It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be any anti-discrimination messaging at the Club World Cup," said Powar to the BBC. "These messages have been supported by fans, players, and civil society in the past. It's disheartening that the message of inclusion can't be shared with the world, and that those of us working in this field weren't informed. We understand that sensitivities in host countries may play a part, but it's crucial for FIFA to communicate consistent and progressive values."
The "No Racism" slogan returned during the International Day for the Elimination of Hate Speech, albeit briefly. At the 74th FIFA Congress in May in Bangkok, Infantino outlined five key action areas to combat racism. An essential measure involves the introduction of a global gesture against racist insults - with arms crossed at the wrists. "Since then, this gesture has been integrated into FIFA tournaments' protocols, including the current FIFA Club World Cup," Infantino stated.
Football "Infantino doesn't get it" Trump-Infantino Showdown in the Oval OfficeCrossed arms is a gesture that empowers players, team officials, and referees to stand against racism. By adopting this stance, they can signal to the referee instances of racial abuse, triggering FIFA's three-step procedure. Persistent offenses, if not stopped, could lead to the match's abandonment.
Off the pitch, FIFA deploys the Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) to shield players, coaches, and officials from online abuse. Since its introduction at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the service has been present at 23 tournaments and friendly matches, assessing over 33 million posts and comments on 15,302 accounts. So far, more than 10 million offensive comments have been concealed, safeguarding targeted individuals, their loved ones, and followers from online harassment and potential psychological strain.
[1] ntv.de[2] ter[4] https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/13/fifa-must-end-complicity-racist-abuse [3] https://www.btheachiever.com/opinion/did-us-president-donald-trump-influence-fifa-s-failure-to-fight-racism/
- The community and employment policies of FIFA should prioritize the eradication of racism in sports, particularly where football is concerned, following the return of the "No Racism" slogan in stadiums, as demonstrated by Gianni Infantino's recent initiatives.
- In the spirit of promoting a fair and inclusive environment, FIFA's future employment policies could include training programs on anti-discrimination in sports, focusing on football, to ensure that all stakeholders uphold the organization's commitment to eradicating racism in sports.
