"VAN" (Sports Desk - 18.10.2025) :: Juan Pablo Sorin is wearing a FIFA Legends shirt, but when he speaks about the battle against racism and discrimination, he doesn't do it as a legend, just "as a human being". His commitment and energy are palpable. “Every day, you can be a better person. You can do something to be a better person. That's my way of thinking. When it comes to racism, there is no middle ground. If you don't speak up, if you choose to remain silent, you are supporting something that harms humanity,” says the former left-back, now one of the visible faces of the Player's Voice Panel, the new programme of FIFA that advocates the Global Position Against Racism in Football. The panel’s mission is to monitor, advise, educate and, above all, promote an active stance against racism and all kinds of discrimination.
In an exclusive interview, the 1995 Argentina U-20 World Cup champion spoke about this new FIFA initiative that, he underlines, has arrived to make a real change in the sport, with one clear goal - that no player, male or female, ever feels alone when being subject of racism and discrimination. “This is not about slogans. This is true union.”
For 80 minutes, he would continue to answer passionately, yet calmly, in Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese about his next goal - that there’s no place for any racist remarks in football. “Our mission now is to let all players know that the Panel, with all the important members that are part of it, with all the FIFA backing behind, is there for them, ready to take action, so no-one that was victim of racism is alone or left behind. The voice of the players is trying to build a more powerful, constant force, as if it was a great match, until completely defeat racism. We will not stop.”
A TEAM OF LEADERS In addition to Sorin, the Panel features 15 other representatives — male and female players — representing all six confederations, with the mission to educate, advise and monitor in order to implement concrete initiatives to combat racism.
The panel members are: George Weah (Liberia), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Mercy Akide (Nigeria), Iván Córdoba (Colombia), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal), Formiga (Brazil), Jessica Houara (France), Maia Jackman (New Zealand), Sun Jihai (China), Blaise Matuidi (France), Aya Miyama (Japan), Lotta Schelin (Sweden), Briana Scurry (United States), Mikaël Silvestre (France) and Sorin (Argentina).
“We want every federation to know that there are people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, ready to help. We have members from Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, North America, Europe — from all continents. This is what we are doing, starting from grassroots,” the Argentinian explains.
Cr - AIPS
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