Weah Hails FIFA’s Fight against Racism, Hate Speech in Football

Former Liberian President George Weah has lauded FIFA's commitment to eradicating racism and hate speech from football, calling it a significant advancement for the sport. Weah, who holds the position of Honorary Captain for the recently established 16-member Players' Voice Panel, expressed his conviction that the panel is on the right track to eliminate these detrimental issues affecting the game's progress. He urged all stakeholders to actively support this crucial endeavor.

“

From where I come (Africa), television was the only means of watching the World Cup. Then we all begin to dream to play at the World Cup one day, or to play somewhere.

The Players' Voice Panel, composed of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds and representing all six FIFA confederations, is tasked with monitoring and advising on the implementation of strategies aimed at combating racism globally. Weah emphasized that this diverse composition is vital for addressing the multifaceted nature of racism in football.

“

I come from Liberia, a small country of five million people. We experienced wars and it was during our civil crises that we pushed our national team to rebuild the image of our country through sports.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Weah shared his early memories of the World Cup, which, from his perspective in Africa, was primarily experienced through television. This sparked a lifelong dream to play on the world stage, a dream that eventually led him to clubs like Tonnerre Yaounde in Cameroon and AS Monaco in France. He candidly spoke about how the civil wars that plagued Liberia hindered the nation's chances of qualifying for the World Cup, despite valiant efforts by the national team to rebuild the country's image through sports.

“

It’s a blessing for me. I thank God and I’m grateful.

Despite not achieving his personal dream of playing in the World Cup, Weah finds immense joy and pride in his son, Timothy Weah, representing the United States in the current tournament. He described it as a profound blessing, acknowledging the sacrifices made by his wife, who managed Timothy's football career logistics while he was still playing. Weah highlighted his son's dedication and the opportunities provided by those who guided his development, culminating in this significant achievement on the global stage.

“

First of all, it’s a good initiative to fight, eradicate hate speech and racism. In the past, most of us experienced racism and bullying at a high level. And to see that FIFA is making every effort to eradi