The decision by the world’s football governing body, FIFA to scrap its anti-racism taskforce has triggered reactions from various stakeholders in the world of sports.
One of those who believed the development was an unacceptable one was four-time African Best Player, Yaya Toure.
The former Ivorian international noted that players and fans might be the ones to suffer the decision.
“Are FIFA being complacent ahead of a World Cup in Russia? It will be the fans and players that suffer if FIFA do not get this right.
“When I received the letter telling me the FIFA taskforce was to be discontinued, I was very disappointed.
“The letter listed the good work that had been carried out as a result of the taskforce’s advice and recommendations.
“So my question is, after failing to deal with racism sufficiently for decades, why stop when something is beginning to work?” BBC quoted disappointed Toure as saying.
The Manchester City star has been racially abused in Russia by CSKA Moscow fans in October 2013.
FIFA Defends Decision
The football body defended its decision to scrap an anti-racism taskforce, saying it had completed the work it set out to do.
FIFA Taskforce Against Racism and Discrimination was set up in 2013 to develop recommendations for tackling the issue.
Some other critics have also questioned the dismantling of the group, saying ‘racism is ongoing’.
However, FIFA General Secretary, Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, insisted that the body had a specific mandate, which it had fully fulfilled.
