The FIFA Players’ Voice Panel (PVP) led by its honorary captain George Weah say they are more determined than ever to rid football of racism and “there is much more to come” following the progress made in its first year. Established in September 2025, the PVP comprises 16 male and female former players from 14 FIFA Member Associations (MAs) and all six continental confederations. It monitors and advises on anti-racism strategies, participates in educational initiatives and offers input on reforms, bringing lived experience and influential leadership to the cause. The PVP operates within the broader framework of FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism, the initiative designed to counter all forms of racism in football through a clear zero-tolerance approach.

“Following our recent meeting, the FIFA Players’ Voice Panel, under the leadership of George Weah, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating racism and discrimination in football,” said the Panel in a statement issued after it convened in Paris, France, for its first meeting since the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

“Within the mandate established by FIFA and endorsed by the FIFA Congress, the Players’ Voice Panel brings together independent voices, perspectives and experiences. Its members are free to express their views, exercise independent judgment and provide honest, constructive recommendations to FIFA, while working in close collaboration with the FIFA administration towards our shared and exclusive mission: combating racism and discrimination in football.

“This mission constitutes the Panel’s sole mandate, and its collective activities and responsibilities remain exclusively focused on this purpose, within FIFA’s institutional framework. Matters beyond this mandate fall outside the scope of the Panel’s tasks.

“As we complete our first year of work, a comprehensive annual review will be presented shortly, highlighting our achievements and the next steps in our collective efforts. Nothing should distract us from this fundamental mission. Our mandate is clear. Our commitment is unwavering. This is only the beginning. There is much more to come.” Attending in person at FIFA’s Paris office and online, PVP members were joined by FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Gelson Fernandes and FIFA’s Head of Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Gerd Dembowski, who represent the secretariat of the PVP on behalf of FIFA, to review the recent FIFA World Cup™ and discuss key action areas.

The PVP equally examined strategies to reinforce FIFA’s anti-racism message in the future, notably during the upcoming FIFA Congress in March and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ in Brazil. “We need to do more and more can be done, and that’s what the meeting was all about here in Paris. So, we get together; we understand what more needs to be done,” said Mr Weah, who became the first African to be named FIFA World Player of the Year back in 1995 and then served as President of Liberia from 2018 to 2024. “Our determination to eradicate racism from football remains stronger than ever.” The PVP received a presentation on FIFA Football for Schools by the programme’s director, Franck Castillo, who outlined how the inclusive initiative helps millions of children globally learn life skills through football. Education is a key pillar for the work of the PVP and a close collaboration with Football for Schools is taking place.

A further presentation detailed the work of the Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which aims to protect the mental health of anyone involved in FIFA tournaments and the 211 MAs by monitoring and blocking potentially harmful content on their social media accounts.

During the FIFA World Cup 2026, the SMPS analysed more than 17.1 million posts and comments, verifying 240,000 as abusive and blocking over 7 million potentially harmful or spam remarks. More than 2,900 accounts were escalated for investigation, with 786 cases referred directly to law enforcement to reinforce FIFA’s message that there will be real-life consequences for online abuse.

“They have done an excellent, fantastic job – things we didn’t see,” Mr Weah said of the SMPS. “So, it tells you that they clean up and they can continue to do so, so the game can be a beautiful game.”