Football icons George Weah and Didier Drogba are among a group of 16 former players appointed by FIFA to a new panel dedicated to tackling racism in football.
The initiative, announced at FIFA’s annual congress in Thailand in May 2024, has now taken shape with a line-up of influential voices from across the globe revealed earlier today, September 5.
The panel, called Players’ Voice, brings together both male and female football legends from 14 different countries. It will play a central role in advising FIFA on anti-racism strategies, shaping educational programmes, and driving reforms aimed at changing football’s culture.
Weah, the former AC Milan striker and ex-President of Liberia, has been named honorary captain of the group. “Football brings unity and development. It also enhances humanity,” Weah said.
“I will always exert all efforts, as I have done in the past and continue to do, to promote the sport because football is life. I am honoured to serve in this role.”
Among the names on the list is Nigeria’s Mercy Akide, a trailblazer in women’s football and one of Africa’s most respected voices in the game. Akide, who rose to prominence with the Super Falcons and played a key role in putting Nigerian women’s football on the global map, is expected to bring her experience and perspective to the fight against discrimination.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed the urgency of the panel’s work. “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,” he said.
The full Players’ Voice panel includes: George Weah (Liberia), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Mercy Akide (Nigeria), Ivan Cordoba (Colombia), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal), Formiga (Brazil), Jessica Houara (France), Maia Jackman (New Zealand), Sun Jihai (China PR), Blaise Matuidi (France), Aya Miyama (Japan), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Briana Scurry (United States), Mikael Silvestre (France), and Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina).
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