FIFA proud of its achievements in fight against racism, while continuing to promote homophobia, sexism, and antisemitism

From SportAndDev.com, a look back at FIFA's efforts in the fight against racism in football. One wonders how FIFA can claim to be so enlightened with regard to one form of discrimination, and so willfully blind to others:

Football is universally [sic] and deservedly [sic] known as ‘the beautiful game’. But even the most beautiful of things have ugly defects, and football, which is no exception, has racism.

Albeit a serious problem, it is one on the decline - in no small part due to the Buenos Aires Resolution, which was passed by the Extraordinary Congress of FIFA on 7 July 2001. To mark its tenth anniversary, FIFA.com will begin publishing interviews on racism and discrimination in football with a series of personalities, starting with Anthony Baffoe. He played international football for African giants Ghana and has helped FIFA in the enduring fight against racism.

FIFA had, of course, been committed to the cause long before then. “FIFA took the strongest stand possible in the fight against racism by expelling apartheid South Africa in 1961 and readmitting them [in 1991] after the release of Nelson Mandela,” explained Tokyo Sexwale, the High Commissioner to the organisation’s 'Say no to Racism' campaign.



However, to combat the rapid increase in footballers leaving their homeland for foreign shores, which subsequently created potential for the problem to enhance, FIFA elected to act more aggressively against racism by passing the Buenos Aires Resolution in 2001. Some of the steps it has taken thereafter include:

2002: FIFA started holding world days against discrimination and racism - “Racism is a blight that we must eradicate forcefully and resolutely,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter during one.

2002: Celebrities join FIFA's fight - including Sir Bobby Charlton, Thierry Henry, Mia Hamm, Pele, Michel Platini and Lilian Thuram.

2004: Code of Ethics approved - which included a statute that “officials, players and players’ agents may not act in a discriminatory manner, especially with regard to ethnicity, race, culture, politics, religion, gender or language.”

2006: amendment to art. 55 of FIFA Disciplinary Code - allowing for very strict sanctions to be imposed after acts of racism or discrimination in football.

2006 - ‘Say no to Racism’ campaign. FIFA launched its ‘Say no to Racism’ campaign in April 2006. Months later at the FIFA World Cup™, large ‘Say no to Racism’ banners were displayed prominently during the pre-match formalities

2007 - ’90 minutes for Mandela” game. FIFA used the ’90 minutes for Mandela’ match, which was contested between an African and Rest of the World XIs, to aid the fight against racism.

2010: Anti-Discrimination days at South Africa 2010 - The captains of the teams playing South Africa 2010 quarter-finals on 30 June and 1 July, which were FIFA Anti-Discrimination Days, read pre-match pledges against racism.