Kurt Simeon-Okraku chairs maiden FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee meeting in Doha

  President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and 2nd Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has chaired the inaugural meeting of FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee in Doha, marking a significant milestone in global football governance.

The high-level meeting, held on December 16, 2025, brought together senior football administrators from across the world, underscoring FIFA’s renewed commitment to confronting racism, inequality and discrimination in the game. As Chair of the 22-member committee, President Simeon-Okraku delivered the keynote address at the plenary session, setting out the vision, priorities and strategic direction that will guide the committee’s work over the next four years.

FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee is one of the organisation’s most influential governance bodies. It is mandated to advise on policy, recommend reforms and support the implementation of robust and effective anti-racism strategies across global football. The committee is tasked with preventing, investigating and addressing incidents of racism and discrimination within FIFA’s member associations, clubs and competitions.

Under President Simeon-Okraku’s leadership, the committee is expected to play a central role in advancing FIFA’s human rights agenda, promoting diversity and inclusion, and safeguarding the values of fairness and respect in football. Its work will focus on strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing education and awareness, and ensuring accountability at all levels of the game.

The committee comprises a diverse and experienced group of football leaders representing all regions of the world. Members include Lorrelle Abrams (British Virgin Islands), Irene Aguiar (Spain), Shaikh Hassan Al-Khalifa (Bahrain), Rivaldo Antonio (Guinea-Bissau), Bennett Bailey (South Africa), Paul-Claude Berude (Canada), Isayas Jira Bosho (Ethiopia), Marco Brunelli (Italy), Karina Chango (Ecuador), David Courell (Republic of Ireland), Milovan Djukanovic (Montenegro), Nilton Gusmão (Timor-Leste), Dong-ho Lim (Korea Republic), Abdulhakeen Mustapha (Nigeria), Rakesh Naidoo (New Zealand), Agnieszka Olesinska (Poland), Fabrice Shema (Rwanda), Bounyou Sisane (Laos) and Gaston Uribe (Bolivia).

Together, the committee will work under President Simeon-Okraku’s guidance to strengthen FIFA’s global efforts to foster inclusivity, respect and equality, reinforcing football’s role as a powerful force for unity and social change.

  President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and 2nd Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has chaired the inaugural meeting of FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee in Doha, marking a significant milestone in global football governance.

The high-level meeting, held on December 16, 2025, brought together senior football administrators from across the world, underscoring FIFA’s renewed commitment to confronting racism, inequality and discrimination in the game. As Chair of the 22-member committee, President Simeon-Okraku delivered the keynote address at the plenary session, setting out the vision, priorities and strategic direction that will guide the committee’s work over the next four years.

FIFA’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee is one of the organisation’s most influential governance bodies. It is mandated to advise on policy, recommend reforms and support the implementation of robust and effective anti-racism strategies across global football. The committee is tasked with preventing, investigating and addressing incidents of racism and discrimination within FIFA’s member associations, clubs and competitions.

Under President Simeon-Okraku’s leadership, the committee is expected to play a central role in advancing FIFA’s human rights agenda, promoting diversity and inclusion, and safeguarding the values of fairness and respect in football. Its work will focus on strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing education and awareness, and ensuring accountability at all levels of the game.

The committee comprises a diverse and experienced group of football leaders representing all regions of the world. Members include Lorrelle Abrams (British Virgin Islands), Irene Aguiar (Spain), Shaikh Hassan Al-Khalifa (Bahrain), Rivaldo Antonio (Guinea-Bissau), Bennett Bailey (South Africa), Paul-Claude Berude (Canada), Isayas Jira Bosho (Ethiopia), Marco Brunelli (Italy), Karina Chango (Ecuador), David Courell (Republic of Ireland), Milovan Djukanovic (Montenegro), Nilton Gusmão (Timor-Leste), Dong-ho Lim (Korea Republic), Abdulhakeen Mustapha (Nigeria), Rakesh Naidoo (New Zealand), Agnieszka Olesinska (Poland), Fabrice Shema (Rwanda), Bounyou Sisane (Laos) and Gaston Uribe (Bolivia).

Together, the committee will work under President Simeon-Okraku’s guidance to strengthen FIFA’s global efforts to foster inclusivity, respect and equality, reinforcing football’s role as a powerful force for unity and social change.

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