FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Gelson Fernandes said that education plays a key role
"The most important pillar that we've got in this fight,” he said
The 76th FIFA Congress reaffirmed its commitment to fighting racism
Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations, has spoken at a United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) panel to explain how FIFA is tackling racism, emphasising that education is a key to removing the scourge from the game.
His appearance at the 12th session of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action came after the 76th FIFA Congress, held in Vancouver, Canada, on 30 April, reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to fight racism.
Gerd Dembowski, FIFA Head of Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination, explained to the panel – among other things – the measures which FIFA has taken since the 211 FIFA Member Associations (MAs) united to make Global Stand Against Racism at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2024, and also about discrimination and intersections of them to racism and regarding the extensive work carried out prior to that period.
Since, the FIFA Disciplinary Code has been amended to give match officials power to stop games while the No Racism Gesture is now in place at all FIFA tournaments and more than 12,000 individuals and 570 teams have been protected via the FIFA Social Media Protection Service.
Educational resources have been rolled out as part of the ongoing No Racism campaign and the Players’ Voice Panel, representing all six confederations, has completed a series of high-profile assignments. In addition, at its most recent meeting on 28 April 2026, the FIFA Council approved an amendment to the Laws of the Game to allow red cards to be shown to players who cover their mouths to conceal discriminatory behaviour, a change that will be put into effect in all FIFA competitions beginning with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Mr Fernandes, who was born in Cabo Verde and played for Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup™ after moving to the country during his childhood, said FIFA could not do everything alone. “No sport organisation takes these measures that we do. This is also our responsibility,” he said. “We take that with pride, but we need partners across the world, across all the institutions.”
He said that education needed to play a key role. “We strongly think that education is the most important pillar that we've got in this fight. It's not that we cannot change adults, but it's more difficult. We will have more impact by educating young people through our competition, but also through the youth set-up of the various countries,” he said. “The vision of our President is clear. It’s to get rid of racism in football, but also to encourage the society to get rid of it. He is strongly committed and gives us his energy.”
The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), held in Durban, South Africa. The Group of Independent Eminent Experts, with representatives from five continents, was set up to follow the implementation of the provisions of the declaration.