News in 2006

03rd July 2006

FIFA and FIFPro hand in hand against racism

During the World Cup FIFA and FIFPro have joined together to launch the 'say no to racism' campaign. The captains of the eight semi-finalists have been used as 'role models'. This is a way of running a campaign which FIFPro has used successfully for many years.

FIFPro President Philippe Piat and Tony Higgins of the FIFPro Anti Racism Committee were together in Berlin to support the FIFA initiative. Piat: 'FIFPro is delighted to be partners of FIFA in the task of eliminating racism from football and all other forms of discrimination.'

'This World Cup has demonstrated that 32 nations of different colours, creeds and religions can come together and celebrate through football the great diversity there is in the world. The defeat of racism and other forms of discrimination is one of the greatest challenges facing football today, and FIFPro is happy to support FIFA's initiative in this World Cup', says Piat.

Piat considers it a compliment that FIFA is now following FIFPro's anti-racism strategy: 'We are also involved in the fight against racism using players as role models. Our players are often the target of racist abuses and therefore must be part of the solution. We therefore applaud FIFA's strategy in using Team Captains prior to the Quarter Finals to make public statements against racism.'

'FIFPro has it's own Anti Racism Committee Chaired by Tony Higgins of Scotland and in the last couple of years we have initiated campaigns in 12 European countries with more countries wishing to participate from Africa to South America. These campaigns are all player led', says Piat.

Piat: 'The next important step for FIFA and FIFPro is to make sure that these high profile public events are translated into real action at the grassroots level in our sport. FIFPro is ready to work with FIFA in this battle.'

Source: FIFPro