Former Liberian President George Weah has accepted the role of leading FIFA’s Players’ Voices Panel on Racism, a 16-member group tasked with advising the governing body on combating racism and discrimination in football. Weah, a football legend and the only African to have won the World Player of the Year award, expressed his commitment to finding solutions to eradicate racism from the sport in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The panel, which includes notable figures such as Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Briana Scurry, will monitor and advise on anti-racism initiatives, drive education at all levels of the game, and promote new ideas for lasting change. Weah, who has personally experienced racial abuse during his playing career in Europe, emphasized that the panel’s work will be grounded in empathy and personal experience.

FIFA’s decision to establish the panel is part of a larger effort to step up the fight against racism in football, which began last year. In May 2024, FIFA asked all 211 of its member federations to do more to punish and sanction cases of racism. The announcement comes after FIFA punished six member federations, including Argentina, for racist or discriminatory abuse by fans during June’s World Cup qualifiers.

Weah, who served as Liberia’s 24th president from 2018 to 2024, has a long history of commitment to FIFA, having previously served as a member of the FIFA Football Committee. He reassured Infantino that he remains dedicated to serving FIFA and will work tirelessly to kick racism out of the beautiful game.

The establishment of the panel is a significant step towards addressing the issue of racism in football, and Weah’s leadership is expected to bring a new level of urgency and commitment to the cause. With the panel’s expertise and experience, FIFA hopes to make meaningful progress in eliminating racism and discrimination from the sport, promoting a more inclusive and respectful environment for players, fans, and supporters alike.