On today’s International Day for Countering Hate Speech, I was pleased to see FIFA’s commitment to combatting racism on display at today’s FIFA Club World Cup matches. It has been clear for all to witness how football is uniting the world at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States and we will continue to use the power of football to make a positive difference in our sport and in society. At the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2024, I shared the five action areas for all FIFA’s 211 Member Associations to make a global stand against racism and we are seeing those in action – since then, a global crossed arms gesture to signal racist abuse has been a part of football protocol at all FIFA tournaments, including the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. The No Racism Gesture is designed to empower players, team officials and referees to take a stand against racism. By crossing their hands at the wrists, players can signal directly to the referee that they are being targeted b...