Stakeholders Kick Against FIFA Over Anti-Racism Taskforce Scrap

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Sports News Monday, September 26th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Despite the criticism that its action is “shameful”, the world Football governing body FIFA has defended its decision to scrap the anti-racism taskforce.

The Taskforce Against Racism and Discrimination was set up in 2013 to develop measures to tackle the challenge.

Former FIFA Vice-President Prince Ali bin al-Hussein said: “For it to be disbanded with FIFA considering its work done is extremely worrying.”

Prince al-Hussein who is the President of the Jordan Football Association and a former FIFA Presidential candidate, contended “The notion that the current FIFA leadership believe that the task force’s recommendations have been implemented is shameful.”

Similarly, an Anti-discrimination group faulted FIFA’s decision, describing it as perplexed.

“This comes at a time when there is clear evidence that discrimination, prejudice and hate are on the rise in developed societies.

“Organizations that are actively campaigning against racism and discrimination will be deeply disheartened to hear news of the disbandment, as they look to Fifa for leadership in a game which is so popular across the world”, the group kicked in a statement.

Other stakeholders, including: Kick it Out Chairman Lord Ousley; Hope not Hate chief executive Nick Lowles and others have condemned the disbandment, hitting that it was “a really bad signal”.

However, while speaking at the Soccerex global Football conference in Manchester Monday, FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura said the taskforce has a “specific mandate, which it has fully fulfilled.”

She claimed that the taskforce’s recommendations had been turned into a “strong programme” to tackle racism.

“My presence here is a demonstration that FIFA has a zero tolerance policy against discrimination, not only racism but any kind of discrimination, including violation of human rights.”

The FIFA Scribe is due to present the body’s first Diversity Award later today (Monday).