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FIFA urges soccer bodies to mandate racism as an offense. Players to flag abuse with crossed hands
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FILE -Raven Saunders, of the United States, poses with her silver medal on women's shot put at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. FIFA will urge all 211 national federations to mandate racist abuse in soccer as a disciplinary offense. Soccer’s world body also suggests “a global standard gesture for players to communicate racist incidents” to referees. It's hands crossed at the wrists and raised in the air. - photo by AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA wants all 211 national federations to make racist abuse a disciplinary offense, and designate a crossed hands gesture by victims to alert referees to abuse. Soccer's world body detailed the tougher and more unified approach it wants to tackle racism on Thursday after months of consulting with victimized players including Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. The crossed hands gesture was made on a medal podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 by United States athlete Raven Saunders who won silver in women’s shot put.