FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura has defended the governing body's decision to dismantle its anti-racism task force, saying it had "fulfilled its specific mandate".
The former United Nations official was speaking at the start of the Soccerex conference in Manchester on Monday after news emerged on Sunday that FIFA had written to the task force's members to say its work was complete.
This is despite evidence that racist incidents continue to be a major concern for football, particularly in eastern European countries like Russia, where the 2018 World Cup will be staged.
Samoura said: "The task force had a very specific mandate which it fulfilled and its recommendations have been turned into a strong programme."
She then listed some of these recommendations, which include an anti-discrimination monitoring system, a good practice guide and the creation of a FIFA Diversity Award which she will be handing out for the first time later on Monday.
Samoura, who was named FIFA's first African and first female secretary general in May, added that world football's governing body had a zero-tolerance policy on racism and took all forms of discrimination very seriously.
But speaking shortly before her at Soccerex, Labour's shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said he was concerned when he heard the task force was being wrapped up and warned against "complacency". This followed similar comments from task force member, journalist and lawyer Osasu Obayiuwana who told reporters that the fight against racism "needs continuous attention".
Press Association Sport, however, understands that FIFA genuinely feels it is replacing task force with a raft of measures that go far beyond anything the task force achieved in its three years.
Set up by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2013, the task force was chaired by FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb until his arrest on corruption charges last year. He was replaced by FIFA Council member Constant Omari but the body failed to hold any meetings under his leadership.
Source: PA
