Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba, and former Super Falcons striker, Mercy Akide, have been duly appointed as members of a newly constituted 16-person Players’ Voice Panel established by FIFA to combat racism and discrimination in football.
In an official statement issued via FIFA’s verified social media channels on Friday, it was confirmed that Akide, a three-time Women’s World Cup veteran, was selected alongside former international players representing 14 member associations across all six FIFA confederations.
The panel will further include H.E. George Weah, President of Liberia and former Ballon d’Or recipient. Other African members named are Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) and Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal). Additional appointees include Iván Córdoba (Colombia), Formiga (Brazil), Jessica Houara (France), Maia Jackman (New Zealand), Sun Jihai (China PR), Blaise Matuidi (France), Aya Miyama (Japan), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Briana Scurry (United States), Mikaël Silvestre (France), and Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina).
According to FIFA, the mandate of the panel encompasses:
raising awareness of enhanced anti-racism measures through education,
highlighting the impact of abuse on players and the sport at large, and
advising on practical strategies for response and prevention.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, emphasized that the personal experiences of these football icons will bolster the effectiveness of FIFA’s anti-racism framework. He stated:
“These 16 panel members will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change. They will further push for a shift in football culture, ensuring that measures to counter racism are not merely discussed but effectively implemented both on and off the pitch. Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong – they are crimes. All incidents, whether in stadiums or online, must be fully sanctioned by football authorities and society at large.”
The Players’ Voice Panel was constituted under Pillar Five of FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism, which was unanimously adopted during the 74th FIFA Congress last year.
Despite numerous interventions, racism continues to pose a recurring challenge across major football leagues worldwide.#newsafro_
