FIFA has proposed a five-pillar plan to tackle racist abuse in football.
The world football governing body said it had undergone an extensive consultation process with current and former players who are passionate about making a change.
One of the plan’s proposals would see the introduction of a standard crossed-hands gesture for players to communicate racist incidents during matches.
The crossed-hands gesture will be used by referees to signal an in-game procedure in which matches are paused twice and warnings are given, with the game to then be abandoned in the event of further racism.
The proposal intends to make racism a specific offence which is included in all member associations’ disciplinary codes and has its own specific and severe sanctions, including match forfeits.
FIFA also called for racism to be recognised as a criminal offence in every country and said it would push for severe sanctions in the countries where it is already an offence.
The World Football governing body further stated that it would promote education initiatives with schools and governments to provide a future free of racism, while an anti-racism panel made up of former players will be set up to review the progress of the proposal.