FIFA President Gianni Infantino Sets Deadline to Eliminate Racism in Football
Football’s battle against racism has reached a tipping point, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino has given the sport a three-month ultimatum to eradicate racial discrimination. In a powerful speech delivered at the UEFA Congress in Paris, Infantino demanded a defining moment in the fight against racism. He set May 17, the date of the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, as the deadline for football associations worldwide to take concrete action and address this issue head-on.
Infantino expressed his dismay at the recent surge in racist incidents within the sport. He cited examples such as Coventry’s Kasey Palmer being subjected to abuse at Sheffield Wednesday and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr facing regular racial taunts. These incidents have highlighted the urgent need for drastic measures to be implemented.
To combat racism effectively, Infantino proposed a range of measures. He called for point deductions for teams whose matches are abandoned due to racist incidents, as well as the imposition of criminal charges on individuals involved in racist behavior. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of banning offenders from stadiums and initiating criminal proceedings against them. Infantino believes that these actions must be taken collectively and globally to send a strong message that racism will not be tolerated in football.
FIFA already has a three-stage protocol in place, which enables referees to halt matches when racist behavior is heard from the stands. The protocol escalates to game suspension and abandonment if a second or third incident occurs. However, Infantino believes that more needs to be done to combat this issue effectively. He considers the fight against racism as his top priority and urges football associations to join forces and take united action against racism.
Infantino’s call for immediate action comes at a time when incidents of racism in football are making headlines. Just recently, Birmingham City star Juninho Bacuna claimed he had been racially abused by a West Brom fan. Similarly, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch after being targeted by Udinese fans, and Brentford striker Ivan Toney faced vile harassment online. These incidents underscore the pressing need for stricter measures to be implemented to protect players and eradicate racism from the game.
In response to Infantino’s call, the Football Association (FA) has expressed its readiness to step up and take more action against racism. The FA believes that concrete measures are essential to address this issue comprehensively and create a safe environment for players to compete. They share Infantino’s vision of a united resolution against racism and are committed to working towards this goal.
While progress has been made in the fight against racism, there is still a long way to go. Football associations, governing bodies, and fans all have a role to play in eliminating racism from the sport. The recent arrest of a man on suspicion of racially abusing Birmingham midfielder Juninho Bacuna serves as a reminder that perpetrators of racist behavior will face legal consequences.
In a positive development, a fan who racially abused Forest Green’s Jordan Garrick has been sentenced to nine months in jail. Ryan Ferguson pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, failing to comply with a football banning order, and resisting a police constable. This outcome sends a clear message that society will not tolerate racism in any form.
As the deadline set by FIFA approaches, the footballing community must come together to find innovative solutions and implement robust measures to eliminate racism from the game for good. The fight against racism requires collective effort and unwavering commitment. It is only through united action that football can truly become a sport that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.
Let us heed Infantino’s call to stop racism in football. The time for change is now.