UN, EU, German government and FIFA, united in the fight against racism

Representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, the German government, FIFPro, FARE, the 2006 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee Germany and FIFA met today, 28 March 2006, in Zurich to analyse the recent measures adopted by FIFA in the fight against racism and discrimination in football and to examine the activities planned in this regard during the FIFA World Cup™ in Germany this summer.

"Racism has, for far too long, been damaging the beautiful game we love. We have always adopted a firm stance against this plague, and recently the FIFA Executive Committee approved an amendment to the FIFA Disciplinary Code to impose stricter sanctions, including suspensions, point deductions and disqualification, to punish racist incidents. Now that we have the instruments, together, the football family can work to combat racism and discrimination," stated the FIFA President, who opened the meeting.

"The initiatives adopted by the European Parliament and FIFA are crucial steps in the elimination of racism not only in football, but in European society in general. Football's popularity offers a unique opportunity to tackle racism and discrimination in all its forms", underlined Emine Bozkurt, a member of the European Parliament.

The participants in the meeting acknowledged the strict sanctions against racism and any form of discrimination approved by the FIFA Executive Committee as well as the European Parliament Declaration on tackling racism in football, and expressed their belief that they would contribute to eradicating racism from football once and for all.

Present at the meeting were:

• Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President
• Dr. Doudou Diène, OHCHR Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
• Bahram Ghazi, OHCHR
• Emine Bozkurt, Member of the European Parliament
• Dr. Beate Winkler, EUMC Director
• Bernd-Uwe Hermann, German Ministry of Interior
• Theo van Seggelen, FIFPro General Secretary
• Daniela Conti, FARE Network
• Kurt Wachter, FARE Network
• Leon Mann, FARE Network
• Michael Gabriel, KOS
• Jérôme Champagne, FIFA Delegate of the President for special affairs
• Federico Addiechi, FIFA Head of Corporate Social Responsibility ~ fifaworldcup.com