FIFA has officially unveiled the Players’ Voice Panel — a historic step aimed at putting footballers at the center of the fight against racism in the sport.
The panel consists of 16 iconic football legends from across the globe, including Ballon d’Or winner George Weah and African football legend Didier Drogba. Other notable names on the panel include Emmanuel Adebayor, Mercy Akide, Formiga, Blaise Matuidi, Iván Córdoba, and Briana Scurry, among others.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of the new panel:
“The Players’ Voice Panel is the result of the unanimous vote by all 211 FIFA Member Associations who, through the Global Stand Against Racism, have made clear that the world is united against the scourge of racism in our game.”
Infantino highlighted that this is the first time in history that players are being placed at the heart of FIFA’s anti-racism movement. According to him, the panel will serve as a force for education, advocacy, and long-term cultural change in football.
“Let’s be clear on this: Racism and discrimination are not simply wrong – they are crimes. All incidents of racism, whether in stadiums or online, must be fully punished both by football and across society,” he added.
The Full Panel List
- George Weah (Liberia)
- Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
- Mercy Akide (Nigeria)
- Iván Córdoba (Colombia)
- Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
- Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal)
- Formiga (Brazil)
- Jessica Houara (France)
- Maia Jackman (New Zealand)
- Sun Jihai (China PR)
- Blaise Matuidi (France)
- Aya Miyama (Japan)
- Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
- Briana Scurry (United States)
- Mikaël Silvestre (France)
- Juan Pablo Sorín (Argentina)
What Will the Panel Do?
The Players’ Voice Panel is expected to:
- Promote anti-racism education across all levels of the game
- Develop actionable strategies to counter discrimination both on and off the pitch
- Inspire meaningful cultural shifts within football communities globally
- Ensure that anti-racism is more than a statement — it’s backed by action
This bold initiative comes at a time when the football world is grappling with recurring incidents of racial abuse — both in stadiums and on social media. FIFA hopes that this panel of respected and experienced former players will be able to bridge the gap between policy and impact.
Stay with Scoop Football as we continue to follow how this panel shapes the future of equality in football.
