Fifa plans league table of nations’ with racism problems

Fifa plans to create an international league table of countries which have problems with racism and discrimination in sports.

 At a United Nations forum on racism and football on Monday, Fifa delegate Tokyo Sexwale said the global “barometer” was central to the football governing body’s work to tackle discrimination.

 “The barometer is going to tell that society that the conduct of your sporting people is bringing your country down,” Sexwale, a member of Fifa’s Task Force against Racism and Discrimination told his audience of diplomats and officials. “I don’t think anybody here would like to be low on the barometer.”

 The South African former anti-apartheid activist said Fifa will organise a summit on racism next year with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

 Mandela himself believes that “sport is more powerful than government in breaking down barriers,” Sexwale said.

 A Liverpool fan, Sexwale also cited the case of the club’s forward Luis Suarez, who served an eight-match ban for racially insulting a black opponent in a Premier League match in 2011.

 Fifa intends to give more details of its anti-discrimination project at the Doha Goals sports conference in Qatar, scheduled December 9-11.