World football's governing body FIFA plans to reinforce its fight against discrimination by deploying observers in the qualifiers of the 2018 World Cup, to be held in Russia.
The new measure, part of the new FIFA monitoring system, was presented officially on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London, reports Efe.
With this group of observers, FIFA seeks to supplement the work of referees and disciplinary bodies by providing much-needed evidence to justify sanctions in legal procedures.
"The new monitoring system is a very concrete measure in order to ensure that football sends a clear message for diversity and against any form of discrimination," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday.
Ivorian midfielder for English club Manchester City Yaya Toure, subject of racist chants in Russia while playing for his club, expressed his appreciation that FIFA is taking "this issue very seriously."
The new monitoring system emerged from recommendations made by the FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination, established in 2013, to find concrete solutions against discrimination in soccer.
