FIFA wants global standard for punishing racist abuse and urges players to use crossed hands sign
FIFA will urge all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA wants all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense, and designate a crossed hands gesture by victims to alert referees to abuse.
Soccer's world body on Thursday detailed the tougher and more unified approach it wants to take to tackle racism after months of consulting with victimized players, including Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior.
The crossed hands gesture was made on a medal podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 by United States athlete Raven Saunders who won silver in women’s shot put. At the time, she said it was “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”
FIFA is encouraging players to use the gesture and for referees to then cross hands to indicate they are taking action.
