DIVERSITY AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AT FIFA

Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at FIFA 1

Introduction

Racism and discrimination affect society at FIFA’s position on the issue is unequivocal: large, and football is no exception. Their there is no place for racism or for any form impact on our sport is undeniable. FIFA of discrimination in football, as clearly recognises its responsibility to lead the way described in the FIFA Statutes and several in abolishing all forms of discrimination in of FIFA’s regulations and codes. We are our game, but also to make the most of the committed to fighting discrimination in influence football has beyond the pitch, football in all its forms. thereby contributing to the fight against this scourge of society.

Strategic approach

In FIFA’s day-to-day operations, this Communications features all media preventive approach involves five key and information and PR on diversity and anti- intersecting elements that are crucial to discrimination issues, public awareness embrace diversity and anti-discrimination in raising and campaigning. world football: Education means providing training for Regulations provides the legal basis for FIFA officials and FIFA staff, and providing FIFA’s overall approach to diversity and an advisory framework for FIFA member anti-discrimination. This covers disciplinary associations. matters, safety and security, employment policies and the position of a FIFA Diversity Networking and Cooperation rounds off & Anti Discrimination Manager. the approach by involving many areas of expertise and organisations such as Controls and Sanctions covers risk member associations, confederations, and assessments, match observation, governmental and non-governmental investigation of discriminatory incidents organisations. and possible sanctions, referees’ duties and the training of match officials. 2 Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at FIFA

History – a selected timeline

1960: First resolution of the FIFA Congress 2001: FIFA Conference and Extraordinary on the issue of discrimination. Congress against Racism in Buenos Aires. Following the policy of apartheid The Extraordinary FIFA Congress ratifies the progressively implemented in South Africa, conference’s resolution to fight racism and the FIFA Congress approves a resolution discrimination. against discrimination for the first time. 2002: FIFA Disciplinary Code. 1962: Article addressing discrimination in The newly created FIFA Disciplinary Code the FIFA Statutes. includes an article providing for strong A new paragraph is included in article 2 sanctions against any acts of racism. of the FIFA Statutes rejecting all forms of discrimination: “The objects of the 2002: Start of the annual FIFA Anti- Federations are [...] to prevent racial, Discrimination Days held at FIFA religious or political discrimination or competitions. distinction among players whether their status be amateur, non-amateur or 2004: Creation of the Code of Ethics. professional.” The FIFA Executive Committee approved a Code of Ethics that prohibits any form of discrimination among the football community.

Recent achievements

March 2013: Creation of the FIFA Task Force • Identification of high-risk games Against Racism and Discrimination. • Identification and engagement of anti- The task force includes different discrimination ambassadors stakeholders from the football community • Proposal of special award for as well as a broad panel of experts in the achievements in the area of anti- fight against racism and discrimination. discrimination FIFA starts on the implementation of the task force’s recommendations. March 2015: First FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference. May 2013: Resolution of the 63rd FIFA At the Home of FIFA in Zurich, FIFA Congress on the fight against racism and celebrates International Women’s Day and discrimination. signs the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration on Women and Sport to promote women September 2013: The the FIFA Task in leadership. Force Against Racism and Discrimination identifies the following matters as key May 2015: Introduction of the FIFA Anti- prioritites: Discrimination Monitoring System. • Allocation of specific resources for the The new monitoring system will assess fight against racism and discrimination more than 850 high-risk matches for • Development of an anti-discrimination potential discriminatory incidents during handbook to be given to all member the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ associations for best practice and training preliminary competition and selected • Recruitment and training of anti- friendly matches. It operates through the discrimination officers provision of evidence by the FIFA Anti- Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at FIFA 3

Discrimination Match Observers, special February 2016: match reports and disciplinary procedures. As part of a set of reforms, the Central to this project is FIFA’s close Extraordinary FIFA Congress agreed on cooperation with the Fare network. a greater recognition and promotion of women in football with a minimum of one June 2015: Start of the FIFA Female female representative elected as a Council Leadership Development Programme. member per confederation; promotion of women as an explicit statutory objective July 2015: Launch of the FIFA Sustainability of FIFA to create a more diverse decision- Strategy for the 2018 FIFA World Cup making environment and culture. Russia™. March 2016: Second FIFA Women’s Football The strategy forms the basis for a practical and Leadership Conference held on the sustainability action plan which includes theme “equality through reform”. several actions on diversity and anti- discrimination. June 2016: Second edition of the FIFA Female Leadership Development October 2015: Publication of the FIFA Programme. Good Practice Guide on Diversity and Anti- Discrimination. September 2016: Presentation of the FIFA Diversity Award. The Good Practice Guide offers an overall The jury, including different stakeholders of concept and outlines practical tools the football community as well as experts on how to foster diversity and anti- from governmental and non-governmental discrimination within and among FIFA’s organisations, will decide annually on the member associations. It addresses the winner of this award. associations’ specific responsibilities and provides recommendations on how to build December 2016: 15th edition of the FIFA a network with partners inside and outside Anti-Discrimination Days at the semi-finals football. of FIFA Club World Cup 2016.

FIFA Diversity Award

In July 2001, FIFA’s member associations of recommendations made by the FIFA Task approved the ground-breaking and still Force Against Racism and Discrimination, relevant resolution against racism and which are now in their implementation discrimination at the Extraordinary FIFA phase, and which include other projects Congress in the Argentinian capital of such as the support provided to all 209 Buenos Aires. FIFA is commemorating member associations in their fight against the 15th anniversary of the passing of this discrimination. resolution by creating the FIFA Diversity Award, which will be presented for the first Aims time in July 2016. The annual award recognises an The FIFA Diversity Award highlights the outstanding organisation, group initiative importance of the fight against exclusion or football personality that is standing and discrimination, and is presented to an up for diversity and anti-discrimination in organisation, group initiative or football football on a national or international level personality that is putting their full weight and on a sustained basis. It is part of the set behind a project or programme that 4 Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at FIFA

is making a significant contribution to FIFA administration through its anti- diversity and anti-discrimination. Through discrimination experts. In future editions, this symbolic recognition and honour, member associations and the general public FIFA hopes to inspire others around the will also be invited to suggest organisations world to take up the cause, which in turn and individuals to the jury. will motivate other organisations, group Every year, the jury will then select initiatives and individuals to exchange best three exceptional candidates from the practices and build up networks. highly varied landscape of projects The award also provides FIFA with an and programmes implemented by opportunity to highlight and strengthen organisations, group initiatives and its own strategic approach and activities individuals. The three finalists and ultimate in the field of diversity and anti- winner of the FIFA Diversity Award will be discrimination, for example by firming up presented to the public on behalf of FIFA relations with key stakeholders or fostering by members of the jury and prominent the debate around diversity and anti- figures from the world of football. discrimination. Members of the jury The jury Name Function Gerald Asamoah Former German international received FIFA Fair Play Award 2015 on behalf of all football organisations, clubs and fans FIFA has assembled an 11-strong jury, working to support refugees comprising prominent figures from global Joyce Cook Managing Director of the Centre for Access to Football in football and international experts in Europe – CAFE diversity and anti-discrimination in sport. Moya Dodd Chairwoman of the FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football, member of the FIFA Council Between them, the jury members will Thomas Hitzlsperger Former captain of the German national team combine their expertise in the fight against discrimination in all of its guises, whether Constant Omari Chairman of the FIFA Task Force Against Racism and based on ethnic, national or social origin, Discrimination, member of the FIFA Council gender, disability, language, religion, Alexandra Haas Paciuc President of Consejo Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminación – CONAPRED political opinion or any other opinion, Piara Powar Executive Director of the Fare network wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason. Jaiyah Saelua American Samoa international

Award process Clarence Seedorf Four-time UEFA Champions League winner, UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change Tokyo Sexwale Anti-apartheid activist, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring In this first edition, the selection of Committee Israel/Palestine nominees to be submitted to the Abby Wambach FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winner, former USA jury members were made by the international

5. Conclusion

FIFA recognises and embraces its of discrimination throughout the football responsibility to lead the way in the community. At every opportunity, we must global fight against discrimination in send a clear message that discrimination football. While this fight also relies on will not be tolerated in any form. the implementation of measures by FIFA Discrimination is incompatible with the member associations at the national and very essence of sport and the universal local level, FIFA is striving to provide the values inherent to it. appropriate framework for the eradication

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