FIFA Unveils Global Plan to Combat Racism with Crossed Hands Gesture and Five-Pillar Strategy

May 16, 2024, 01:38 PM

FIFA has unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat racism in football, termed the 'Global Stand Against Racism.' The plan includes a five-pillar strategy and introduces a new standard gesture of crossed hands for players to signal racist incidents during games. The existing three-step policy—pause, suspend, and abandon—remains in place. FIFA is urging all 211 national federations to mandate racist abuse as a disciplinary offense, with potential sanctions including match forfeits. This initiative follows consultations with victimized players, including Vinicius Junior. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is spearheading this effort. Despite these efforts, the campaign group Kick It Out has criticized FIFA's plan for lacking detail and failing to address ongoing concerns.