Didier Drogba, Mercy Akide join FIFA’s Anti-Racism Players’ Voice Panel

Among those chosen are Didier Drogba, the Ivorian legend and former Chelsea striker, and Mercy Akide, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated Super Falcons forwards.

The panel, which includes players from 14 countries across six confederations, will serve as a think tank to advise FIFA on anti-racism strategies, help drive educational programmes, and contribute ideas for lasting reforms.

A Global Team of Football Icons

At the forefront of the group is George Weah, the only African player to win the Ballon d’Or and former president of Liberia, who will act as honorary captain. Other big names on the list include Brazil’s Formiga, France’s Blaise Matuidiand Mikael Silvestre, Argentina’s Juan Pablo Sorin, and Sweden’s Lotta Schelin.

For Africa, the selection of Drogba, Akide, and Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo highlights the continent’s continued role in shaping global football discourse, both on and off the pitch.

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“This panel is about more than just words. It is about action,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said when unveiling the group. “Racism and discrimination are not only wrong – they are crimes. Incidents must be punished, whether they happen in stadiums or online. These players will help ensure football leads by example.”

Why This Panel Matters

The Players’ Voice Panel is part of FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism, a framework adopted unanimously by all 211 member associations during the FIFA Congress in Bangkok in 2023. The initiative is anchored in five pillars:

1. Rules and sanctions

2. Action on the field

3. Criminal charges

4. Education

5. Players’ voice

This new panel directly addresses the fifth pillar, ensuring that footballers themselves, those most impacted by racist abuse – are central to shaping solutions.

“Football is unity, football is humanity,” said George Weah. “I will always give everything to promote the sport because football is life. I am honoured to serve in this role.”

The Rising Urgency

FIFA’s move comes against the backdrop of continued racist incidents in the game. In the Premier League alone, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was racially abused during the opening day clash at Liverpool this season. Similar cases continue to surface across Europe and beyond, sparking urgent calls for stronger action.

FIFA has already updated its disciplinary code to reflect this urgency, raising the maximum fine for racist abuse to 5 million Swiss francs ($6.24 million). Referees also now follow a three-step procedure: making a public announcement, suspending the match if abuse continues, and abandoning the game if necessary.

What the Panel will do

According to FIFA, the panel’s responsibilities include:

• Advising on anti-racism strategies across global football
• Educating players, coaches, and officials – including those at youth tournaments – on the impact of racism
• Sharing personal experiences to raise awareness and humanise the fight against discrimination
• Providing input for reforms, ensuring accountability and cultural change

They will also support FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service, which monitors online abuse. Since its launch during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the service has analysed over 33 million posts across 15,000 accounts and distributed more than 100 evidence packs to help prosecute offenders.

A Shift From Words to Action

For Drogba, Akide, and others on the panel, the challenge will be ensuring that football doesn’t just talk about racism but enforces real, lasting change. The presence of legends who have lived through the highs and lows of the game brings credibility and urgency to the campaign.

As Infantino put it: “This panel will support education at all levels and promote new ideas for lasting change. We are very fortunate to have such passionate and prominent individuals involved. Together, we will drive cultural change in football.”

With players at the centre of the movement, FIFA hopes the Players’ Voice Panel will turn the fight against racism into a permanent fixture of the sport, one where accountability, education, and action take priority over empty slogans.

SportsLigue