ZURICH (BN24) — Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba and former Nigerian international Mercy Akide have been appointed to a 16-member FIFA panel aimed at combating racism and discrimination in football.
The newly formed “Players’ Voice” panel includes 14 former players from 14 FIFA member associations across all six global football confederations. FIFA announced the appointment of Akide, a veteran of three Women’s World Cups, on Friday via its official social media channels.
The 50-year-old Akide, who is regarded as one of Africa’s top female footballers, will serve alongside Liberia’s president and former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah. Other notable African football icons named to the panel include Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Senegal’s Khalilou Fadiga.
The global roster also includes former international stars such as Iván Córdoba (Colombia), Formiga (Brazil), Jessica Houara (France), Maia Jackman (New Zealand), Sun Jihai (China), Blaise Matuidi (France), Aya Miyama (Japan), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Briana Scurry (United States), Mikaël Silvestre (France), and Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina).
FIFA’s statement said the panel’s primary role would be to raise awareness of anti-racism measures through education in their respective regions, shed light on the personal and professional toll of racial abuse, and offer practical advice on how to tackle discrimination in football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed confidence that the diverse experiences of the former players would enhance the global fight against racism. “These 16 panel members will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change,” Infantino said in the statement. “They will further push for a shift in football culture, making sure measures to counter racism are not just talked about, but actioned, both on and off the pitch.”
He also stressed that racism in football is not just an issue of sportsmanship but a societal issue that must be addressed. “Let’s be clear on this: Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong – they are crimes. All incidents of racism, whether in stadiums or online, must be fully punished both by football and across society,” Infantino added.
The Players’ Voice panel was established as part of FIFA’s broader initiative against racism, a key pillar of its global stand on the issue, which was unanimously adopted during the 74th FIFA Congress last year. Racism continues to be a pervasive problem in football, with high-profile incidents still emerging in major leagues worldwide.
