FIFA Appoints George Weah, Didier Drogba To New Anti-Discrimination Committee

16 retired football players, including former World football greats George Weah and Didier Drogba, have been nominated to a new FIFA group that will address racism and prejudice in the sport.

The new organization, which is composed of some of the most well-known former players in the game, will collaborate closely with FIFA to suggest more robust rules and programs to fight racism, encourage diversity, and protect inclusion at all levels of the game.

According to FIFA, the group will function as a strategic think tank, elevating the perspectives and experiences of former players to the fore in order to create significant reforms. To guarantee worldwide uniformity in the way prejudice is handled in football, members will examine incidents, suggest awareness initiatives, and offer advice on disciplinary actions.

Former Liberian President George Weah, the only African to win the Ballon d’Or, has long argued for equality and justice in sports. Through his foundation, the renowned Ivorian striker and former Chelsea player Didier Drogba has also been actively involved in social development and humanitarian initiatives.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the formation of the panel, stressing that football must remain a sport open to all, free from any form of discrimination. He added that involving respected legends of the game will give the fight against racism more weight and credibility.

The 16-member panel’s formation coincides with ongoing instances of racial abuse and prejudice in the game around the world. FIFA anticipates that the project will promote solidarity, guarantee responsibility, and provide more robust safeguards for players and supporters.

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The complete list of the 16 former players who have been appointed to FIFA’s recently established Players’ Voice Panel, which will address racism and discrimination in football, is available here:

• Players’ Voice Panel – Full Lineup
• George Weah (Liberia) — appointed honorary captain of the panel
• Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
• Mercy Akide (Nigeria)
• Iván Córdoba (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)
• Mikaël Silvestre (France)
• Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina)

This high-profile panel is a key element of FIFA’s “Global Stand Against Racism,” a framework established under the fifth pillar—Players’ Voice—during the 74th FIFA Congress held in Bangkok in May 2024.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that this marks the first time players themselves are placed at the heart of institutional efforts to combat racism.