The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) Asia-Oceania has launched a new campaign to combat racism against Asian players. FIFPRO Asia-Oceania has published a report on anti-Asian racism as a first step.

FIFPRO Asia-Oceania announced on the 13th that it has launched a new anti-discrimination campaign. This campaign aims to highlight the anti-Asian racism experienced by players and fight against the widespread racism in professional football. The campaign is based on a new report written from data collected in the professional football sector, player testimonies, union research, and literature.

As racist attacks against Asian players continue, FIFPRO Asia-Oceania has stepped up. Over the past few years, Asian players have suffered from racism both on and off the field. They have been particularly harmed by insulting remarks from fans. Instances of anti-Asian racist comments can frequently be seen on social networking services (SNS). Ignorant teammates towards racism have also caused controversy.

Captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) both became targets of racism last year. Son Heung-min caused a stir when his teammate Rodrigo Bentancur made a racist remark during a national interview, stating that all Asians look the same. Although the controversy was eventually settled when Son Heung-min forgave Bentancur, it highlighted the urgent need for education to prevent anti-Asian racism.

Lee Kang-in faced racist remarks from a fan during a public training session in October last year. The fan shouted that Lee Kang-in was a "Chinese," and the incident was captured on SNS. At the time, Lee Kang-in was focused on fan service and did not hear the remarks. After confirming the racism, Paris Saint-Germain took a strong response by permanently banning the fan.

As superstars also suffer from racism, FIFPRO Asia-Oceania is working to ensure that anti-Asian racism does not occur any longer. The report was published for that purpose. It consists of 16 pages and includes cases of anti-Asian racism in the football world, reasons why racism should not happen, and the impact of racism on players.

Tsujii Shoko, Secretary General of FIFPRO Asia-Oceania, stated, "As Asian players gain attention in top leagues and international competitions, there have been many instances of facing overt or subtle racism. This includes online abuse, stereotypes, and verbal harassment. However, many cases go unreported, are dismissed, or are misunderstood, leading to silence and isolation."

She continued, "This report aims to identify various forms of anti-Asian racism, analyze their patterns, and shed light on what actions the football community needs to take regarding the prevalence and harm of this issue. This is the first step of the campaign that will follow. FIFPRO will continue to collaborate with unions, players, and global partners to ensure that all football players can succeed in a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment, regardless of their background."

Meanwhile, FIFPRO Asia-Oceania is working to prevent discrimination in football through efforts such as the #ItsPersonal campaign, stakeholder collaboration on anti-discrimination policies and education, and ongoing advocacy for inclusive football governance.

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