Officials will play key role in implementing Protocol on Racist Incidents in Stadiums

MIAMI (Wednesday, March 12, 2014) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today that it has appointed a team of Diversity Officers to co-ordinate the monitoring and elimination of any racist or discriminatory behavior during matches as a component of its efforts to broaden its Embrace Diversity campaign.

The nine officers, all experienced officials within the game, come from across the CONCACAF region and are being given special responsibility for ensuring that the recently introduced ‘Protocol for Racist Incidents During Matches’ (link to document) is implemented appropriately.

“Racism and discrimination have no place in our game and the Protocol is designed to ensure that we have the mechanisms to deal with any potential incidents swiftly and systematically,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

“The CONCACAF Diversity Officers bring a wealth of experience and expertise in football administration and will be a major asset to our monitoring and disciplinary process,” added Webb.

On Tuesday, the Diversity Officers took part in a workshop in Los Angeles with guests from the U.K.-based group Football Against Racism (FARE), who were invited by CONCACAF to outline their experiences in the monitoring and handling of racism and discrimination in stadiums in Europe.

The workshop examined detailed techniques for monitoring and reporting racist or discriminatory incidents and evaluated several case studies. The discussion prompted a deeper analysis of the specific conditions in the CONCACAF region and the best approach for tackling any incidents in the future.

“The Diversity Officer scheme is a very welcome and innovative step in CONCACAF’s drive to embrace the diversity of the region by tackling discrimination and moving towards equality for all in football,” said FARE Executive Director Piara Powar.

The nine Diversity Officers are:

David Sabir – General Secretary, Bermuda Football Association

Peter Montopoli – General Secretary, Canadian Soccer Association

Damien Hughes – General Secretary, Caribbean Football Union

Carlos Mendez – President, El Salvador Football Federation

Andy Swift, Executive Director, Dallas Cup

Margarita Echeverria – CONCACAF Statutes Committee Member

Anthony Johnson – President, St. Kitts & Nevis Football Association

Rignaal Francisca – President, Curaçao Football Federation

Decio de Maria – President, Liga MX

Ariel Alvarado

Sheldon Phillips – General Secretary, Trinidad & Tobago Football Association

The meeting was held in Los Angeles ahead of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal, first leg between the LA Galaxy and Club Tijuana on Wednesday at the StubHub Center.