Meaning Behind 'X' Gesture Players Can Use To Stop Matches at the World Cup
Summary
FIFA has introduced a new hand signal—crossing arms in an "X"—for players, referees, and team officials to report racist abuse during soccer matches. This gesture triggers FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, which may lead to warnings, removing players from the field, or stopping the match if discrimination continues.Key Facts
- The "X" gesture was first used in the 2024 Under-20 Women’s World Cup and will be used in the 2026 World Cup.
- Players, referees, or officials can use the gesture to report racist or discriminatory behavior immediately.
- Once signaled, referees stop play and warn the stadium audience to end discriminatory actions.
- If abuse continues, players can be removed and the match can be suspended or abandoned.
- This signal adds clarity and speed to the existing anti-racism procedures, which relied largely on verbal reports or referee detection.
- The gesture responds to past criticisms that governing bodies have been slow to react to racist incidents.
- Racist abuse has been a problem at recent major tournaments, such as Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
- Abuse has also occurred online, affecting players after high-profile matches.
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