New anti-racism gesture introduced at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
*Cross-shaped sign to signal racist incidents in Colombia
Players will have a concrete way to fight racism under FIFA’s anti-discrimination policy
THE Member associations unanimously join to FIFA to eradicate this scourge in football
Approved unanimously at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand on 17 May 2024, a procedure for reporting racist incidents will be implemented for the first time at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™. The gesture antiracism – which involves crossing one’s arms at the wrists – will provide players, referees and team officials with a concrete way to combat racial discrimination. It will be implemented as part of the existing three-step procedure during the competition in Colombia, which kicks off on 31 August.
Players will thus have the opportunity to report any racist incident to the referee, who will then be able to initiate the three-stage procedure. In the first stage, the match will be interrupted. If racist behavior continues, the meeting will be temporarily stopped and the players and referees will leave the field. If the problem is still not resolved after this suspension, the match will be stopped definitively as part of the third stage.
The cross sign will be introduced in all FIFA competitions as part of the three-stage procedure, which all FIFA member associations have also agreed to adopt at national level. This protocol will now be applied worldwide. As part of its zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of discrimination, and aware that players regularly face racism, FIFA has consulted a large number of players, both active and retired. They are all determined to change this situation. The cross sign is the second of the five pillars of the global mobilization against racism adopted at the FIFA Congress.
#NODISCRIMINATION FIFA Congress stands up to support stronger anti-racism measures
“The fight against racism concerns us all,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “The introduction of the gesture antiracism at the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 in Colombia represents a vital first step in empowering players around the world to respond. This gesture is now part of the three-step process that will be applied globally for maximum effect.” “This initiative received the unanimous support of FIFA’s 211 member associations at the last Congress. I would like to thank them for their determination and efforts to achieve our common goal of eradicating racism once and for all, both in football and in society. I would also like to thank the players – past and present – who have made their contribution. We must work with governments and law enforcement to punish those who threaten to destroy our game through racism. The time has come for strong and unequivocal action.”
