France: LFP includes FIFA's "No Racism Gesture" in match protocol for Ligue 1 & Ligue 2

The Ligue de Football Professionnel has incorporated the "No Racism Gesture", presented at the 74^th FIFA Congress in Bangkok (THA) on 17/05/2024, into its match protocol for the Ligue 1 McDonald's and Ligue 2 BKT, announced the body on 04/10/2024.

The gesture - crossed arms making an 'X' shape - which can be made by a player, referee or official, signals racist behaviour to the referee. It is incorporated into FIFA's three-stage procedure for dealing with racist acts. After making or seeing the gesture, the referee may decide to stop the match. If the racist behaviour continues after the announcement made in the stadium during the match stoppage, the referee has the option of temporarily stopping the match and sending the teams back to the dressing room, or stopping it definitively in the event of a repeat offence.

"The LFP has communicated to the clubs, officials and the UNFP how to incorporate this anti-racist gesture into the protocol. Sent to all clubs in mid-September, this new protocol has been incorporated into the anti-discrimination workshops run by the League, in…