00:05FIFA has assembled a panel of 16 former players of diverse ethnic backgrounds and of nationalities
00:12spanning all six confederations to monitor and advise on the implementation of initiatives
00:17and actions taken as part of the global stand against racism.
00:23Well the players voice panel is the result of the unanimous vote by all 211 FIFA member associations
00:33who have made clear that the world is united against the scourge of racism in our game.
00:43For the first time ever we will have players at the heart of the movement required to make this change.
00:51A reality.
00:53The players voice panel ensures that lived experience is central to FIFA's work
00:58with panel members offering critical insights on how racism impacts players both on and off the pitch.
01:06The members of the players voice panel have extended their support to those who have been racially discriminated
01:15and they will push for a shift in football culture making sure measures to counter racism are not just talked
01:25but are action both on and off the pitch.
01:30The panel's honorary captain is 1995 Ballon d'Or winner and former president of Liberia, George Weyer.
01:41Resisting is a disease. You cannot continue to condone racism in a public space, most especially on the field
01:52where everybody's supposed to be working together, enjoying together and have fun, enjoy the good of the game.
02:02Other panel members include Brianna Scurry, Mikhail Silvestre and Lotta Schellin.
02:09I want to make sure that I do my part, not only in my legacy, but for the growth of
02:18the sport in my country
02:20to get racism out of the game and make it beautiful again.
02:25We have a big chance, a big opportunity, a big platform with the help of FIFA, you know, to really
02:32act.
02:33We're former players, so we know how it is on the pitch and we understand the players.
02:40Football.
02:42We all know it's a universal game. It's the only thing that brings so many people together.
02:52We will always experience when there's a game because football unites people.
03:01It brings the entire world together and that will make it beautiful.
03:06You know, and I'm glad I played this game, you know, and I experienced every way and every form,
03:16the behavior of different nationalities.
03:21Some come with love, some will hate, some are racist, some are not.
03:28But at the end of the day, what is important is to take away the negative part of sports,
03:36which is bowling players, fans against fans.
03:42Because the essence of the game is to unite, is to enjoy and is to have fun, is to play,
03:49is to love the game.
03:51The panel was established under one of the five pillars of FIFA's global stand against racism in 2024.
03:59And the members are keen for it to grow and include as many voices as possible.
04:05All of us have to be involved. Those that experience racism, they are still out there in the game.
04:11We need to bring them on board. We want to make sure that we get one voice.
04:16And that voice, that one voice, will make an impact, will make a difference.
04:22With a strong leader, a strong President Infantino, who listened to everybody.
04:32And that's the picture that we're fighting for, you know.
04:37He listens to everybody, so everybody needs to be on board, so we can make this ship.
04:44And a ship, a family, sailing towards prospect.
04:52Solidarity and peace is important.
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