Ghana’s KP Boateng accepts to join FIFA’s anti-discrimination taskforce

Former Ghanaian international and AC Milan midfielder, Kevin Prince Boateng has been invited to join the newly created FIFA anti-discrimination taskforce.

The invitation was made by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter last Friday when Boateng visited him at the FIFA Headquarters.

“This taskforce needs strong personalities and people who stand out from the crowd, like yourself, to give it credibility,” FIFA President Blatter told KP Boateng, according to a statement.

Blatter added “The President of the new Anti-Discrimination Taskforce, Jeffrey Webb, is a strong and dynamic man who will take action.”

Boateng then happily accepted the invitation, adding that “everyone needs to be stricter regarding this issue and this taskforce needs to make sure of that”.

The two met to hold talks on racism in world football.

Boateng, who was in Geneva for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – an event organised as part of the 22nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – said the issue has been especially pressing of late.

On January 3, 2013, Boateng decided to walk off the pitch with his AC Milan team-mates after 26 minutes of a preparation game with Pro Patria, incensed by racial chants emanating from the stands.

“When I left the pitch against Pro Patria, I know it wasn’t the right decision, but at that moment I was very angry and very emotional,” the midfielder explained to FIFA’s President.

He added “I spoke to the referee about it very early on, but after 26 minutes I just lost it and walked off the pitch. It shouldn’t be the decision of the player, though. I think that referees should perhaps have more power in this area and they should take their courage in their own hands. But it’s not easy and I realise that.”

The two men then discussed the appropriate sanctions in cases like this.

By Ekow Quandzie