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 how to combat 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 eradicating racism from the sport in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The panel includes notable figures such as Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor and Briana Scurry. Its responsibilities will be to monitor and advise on anti‑racism initiatives, drive education at all levels of the game, and promote new ideas for lasting change. Having personally experienced racial abuse during his playing career in Europe, Weah 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 broader effort to intensify the fight against racism in football, a campaign that 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 follows FIFA’s recent sanctions against 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 involvement with 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 represents a significant step toward addressing 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, promoting a more inclusive and respectful environment for players, fans and supporters alike.
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