Liberia’s former President and world-famous football legend, George Weah, has thanked FIFA after being chosen to lead a new global panel that will focus on fighting racism in football.
The announcement was made on Thursday, and on Saturday, September 5, 2025, Weah shared a letter on his Facebook page addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In the letter, he said that being asked to head the new Players’ Voices Panel on Racism was a great honor for him. He also promised that the panel would work very hard to create real solutions to remove racism from football, both on the pitch during matches and outside of it in society.
Weah, who is well known for his successful career at top clubs such as AC Milan, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, reminded FIFA that the members of the panel have all faced racism personally during their careers. This, he said, gives them a deeper understanding of the problem and the pain it causes. He wrote:
“On behalf of all the members of the panel, I want to assure you that as people who have directly suffered from racism in our own lives and careers, we know how harmful it is, not only to football itself, but also to players, fans, supporters, and to humanity as a whole.”
Weah, who won the famous Ballon d’Or in 1995, also mentioned his past service to FIFA as a member of the Football Committee. He promised his dedication once again, saying that he and the other members are ready and eager to start this important work. He praised his fellow panellists and called it a proud moment to be working with such respected football figures, all united by the goal of driving racism out of the sport.
FIFA has confirmed that the panel will have 16 members, all of them well-known football stars. The group includes some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, such as Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, Nigerian women’s football legend Mercy Akide, Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo de Lima, Dutch great Clarence Seedorf, and former England international Eniola Aluko.
The panel was created as part of FIFA’s larger effort to deal with racism and discrimination, problems that have continued in football despite many past campaigns. Unlike earlier projects, this new group will not only raise awareness but will also advise FIFA on concrete policies and suggest strong measures that can actually stop racist behavior in stadiums and in the wider football community.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has often spoken strongly against racism and discrimination. He has repeatedly called for tougher punishments for clubs, federations, and individuals who fail to prevent racist behavior. According to him, football must remain a that brings people together, no matter their race, culture, or background.
This new panel is seen as a more serious step compared to older campaigns such as FIFA’s Say No to Racism initiative. While that project spread powerful messages through banners, slogans, and announcements before matches, many critics argued that it was mostly symbolic. They said it lacked strong punishments or actions that could make real change.
For example, in 2019, UEFA fined the Bulgarian Football Union only €75,000 after their fans made racist chants toward England players. Many people condemned the fine as too small to discourage future racism. Critics pointed out that such weak actions made it easy for racism to continue.
Now, under Weah’s leadership, FIFA hopes this new panel will give a stronger global voice to players and help shape tougher, more effective rules. The goal is not just to talk about racism, but to take action that will protect players and fans and ensure that football remains the beautiful game for everyone, everywhere.
