By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
FIFA has appointed Ivorian legend Didier Drogba and former Super Falcons striker Mercy Akide to a newly constituted 16-member players’ voice panel tasked with combating racism and discrimination in global football.
The world football governing body announced the appointments on Friday, noting that Akide, who represented Nigeria at three Women’s World Cups joins former internationals drawn from 14 member associations across all six FIFA confederations.
Other African icons on the panel include Liberia’s George Weah, a Ballon d’Or winner and current president, Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor, and Senegal’s Khalilou Fadiga. Global members 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 (USA), Mikaël Silvestre (France), and Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina).
FIFA said the panel will drive awareness through education, highlight the impact of abuse on players and the sport, and recommend practical strategies to tackle racism.
“These 16 panel members will support education at all levels of the game and promote new ideas for lasting change,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated. “Let’s be clear on this: Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong, they are crimes.”
The initiative forms part of pillar five of FIFA’s global anti-racism strategy, unanimously adopted at the 74th FIFA Congress last year.
Racism has continued to mar world football, with recent incidents in top leagues reigniting calls for stronger action from players, fans, and governing bodies.
