Overview

• FIFA unveiled the Players’ Voice Panel made up of former men’s and women’s stars from 14 countries, chaired by George Weah.
• Members include Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, Formiga, Briana Scurry, Blaise Matuidi, Ivan Cordoba, Aya Miyama, Lotta Schelin and others.
• FIFA says the panel will monitor and advise on anti-racism initiatives, lead education at all levels and operate as a think tank for reforms.
• Gianni Infantino said the group aims to shift football culture and ensure racist incidents are fully punished on and off the pitch.
• The launch follows tougher measures that raised maximum fines to 5,000,000 Swiss francs and introduced a three-step match protocol, plus recent sanctions on six federations, with the panel also set to support victims such as Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.