Toure unhappy with task force end

Yaya Toure has slammed FIFA's decision to disband the anti-racism task force.

The FIFA Taskforce Against Racism and Discrimination was established in 2013 by former president Sepp Blatter to examine racism in the game.

Headed by Jeffrey Webb until he was arrested in 2015 as part of an investigation into corruption, the task force was set up on a temporary basis and a number of its recommendations have been put into practice.

Announcing its disbandment on Monday, FIFA general secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura claimed the task force had fulfilled its mandate but the decision has been met with widespread criticism.

Fifa vice-president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has branded the decision as 'shameful' while Toure, who acted as a consultant, has expressed concern over the ruling.

"When I was asked by FIFA to help with the fight against racism in football, I didn't think twice," Toure said in a statement.

"I have experienced racism all my life – be that in the streets or in the stadiums. So to help address this was my responsibility – a way of preventing other players and fans from going through the same issues I had found in my career.

"When I received the letter telling me the FIFA taskforce was to be discontinued I was very disappointed.

"The letter listed the good work that had been carried out as a result of the taskforce's advice and recommendations. So my question is, after failing to deal with racism sufficiently for decades – why stop when something is beginning to work? Are FIFA being complacent ahead of a World Cup in Russia? This makes no sense.

"The taskforce brought together the expertise of campaigners, football administrators and players.

"It was a resource that gave FIFA the expertise they clearly did not have before. As a group, the taskforce could help shape and put in place the most effective initiatives to keep players and fans safe. The taskforce could question when FIFA were not delivering on its promise to do as much as they could in this area.

"My only hope is that FIFA have thought this through. The letter I received does not fill me with confidence. It will be the fans and players that suffer if FIFA do not get this right."

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