FIFA has intensified its rhetoric and action against hate and discrimination to mark the UN's International Day for Tolerance, with the football governing body stepping up efforts to safeguard its members from a rising tide of harmful online content.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a strong message, stating unequivocally that "football must be a safe and inclusive space, on the pitch, in the stands and online." He highlighted the role of the FIFA Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which uses both advanced technology and human expertise to monitor for abusive or hateful content, remove it, and even filter and block messages before they reach the intended recipient. The SMPS has already flagged over 30,000 abusive posts this year, with eleven individuals reported to law enforcement authorities in seven countries.
Infantino stressed that abuse "has no place in our game," and emphasized FIFA's commitment to holding offenders accountable, noting that the organisation is now blacklisting individuals identified as highly abusive from purchasing tickets for future FIFA tournaments.
However, the global body's commitment to eliminating discrimination faces immediate questions regarding the political arena. Critics have pointed to President Infantino’s well-publicised friendly relationship with Donald Trump, a figure who has been accused of showing hate and discrimination against various groups, including citizens from certain countries whose national teams have qualified for the World Cup.
Given that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, alongside Mexico and Canada, the football family's anti-discrimination message is under intense scrutiny. The application of FIFA's rules and the principle of universal inclusivity will be closely monitored, particularly when juxtaposed with the political policies of the host nation's leaders that impact the free movement of fans and members of the "FIFA family." The challenge for FIFA remains bridging the gap between its universal anti-discrimination policy and the complex geopolitical relationships it must maintain to stage its biggest events.
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