"Fighting Racism in the Beautiful Game" Infantino Celebrates FIFA's Statement Against Intolerance
FIFA Provides Unambiguous Green Light Delights Infantino
Join the conversation on Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link
Football's world governing body, FIFA, has once again highlighted its stance against racism and discrimination, much to the delight of its president, Gianni Infantino. "Taking a stand on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I'm proud to see FIFA making a powerful statement against racism at the Club World Cup matches today," Infantino shared on Instagram. "We'll keep using football's power to drive positive changes in society."
In recent months, FIFA has been under scrutiny for its approach to addressing intolerance in football. Critics argued that the organization sparked confusion by withdrawing "No Racism" and "No Discrimination" messages during the tournament's initial matches – a departure from previous events like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Women’s World Cup [4].
However, the slogans have returned on this significant day. "Say No to Racism" and "Football Unites the World" banners adorn the stadiums and digital screens amid growing calls for football and FIFA to take a more vocal stand against discrimination. Players also posed behind a "Stop Racism" banner before the matches commenced [1][2].
During the 74th FIFA Congress held in May in Bangkok, Infantino showcased a five-point plan for member associations to combat racism on and off the pitch. "Our global gesture of crossing arms at the wrists has become an integral part of FIFA's anti-racism protocol at all tournaments, including the Club World Cup," Infantino said [2].
By crossing their arms, players can signal to referees if they encounter any racist abuse, triggering a three-step procedure that escalates with persistent offenses. If the behavior persists, the match can even be cancelled [2].
Off the pitch, FIFA's Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) guards against online abuse. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the service was employed at 23 tournaments and friendly matches, analyzing more than 33 million posts and comments on 15,302 accounts. This initiative has filtered out over 10 million offensive comments, safeguarding players, coaches, and officials from online harassment and potential stress [3].
[1] ntv.de
[2] ter
[3] Enrichment Data: FIFA initially removed anti-discrimination messages at the 2025 Club World Cup, likely due to a broader cultural retreat from DEI initiatives in the U.S. and internal decisions to scale back its visible anti-racism campaigns. After intense international criticism, FIFA reinstated the messaging briefly but did not maintain it consistently, leading to accusations of insufficient action against racism in football [4].
The community policy of FIFA includes a strong stance against racism, as demonstrated by their powerful statements and measures against intolerance during the Club World Cup matches. Sports analysts might find it interesting to discuss football and its role in driving positive changes in society, while promoting unity and combating racism.
