FIFA Revises Disciplinary Code to Further Counter Discriminatory Behaviour

FIFA has issued Circular No. 1934, dated May 28, 2025, revising the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) to include a comprehensive set of proactive regulatory measures aimed at countering discriminatory behaviour both on and off the pitch.

The new provisions to tackle discrimination and racist abuse include the addition of a three-step anti-discrimination procedure, empowerment of stakeholders for immediate incident reporting, enhanced fines (i.e., up to CHF 5,000,000), appeals to CAS, and rights of intervention if investigations by member associations are deemed inadequate. A deadline of December 31, 2025, has also been provided to members for incorporation of these provisions into their domestic regulations.

In addition, the updated FDC provides clarity on insolvency proceedings, debtor obligations, and creditor vigilance. Moreover, ‘integrity experts’ are now renamed as “Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutors” to better reflect their position and authority. Other minor changes have been made to articles 21, 45, 57, 58, 61, and 70 to incorporate the best practices with a view to optimising proceedings and providing legal certainty.

The circular follows an incident where Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla allegedly abused Venezuelan defender Miguel Navarro during a Copa Libertadores face-off between São Paulo and Talleres. A week prior to the circular, FIFA had issued the disciplinary overview for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, fining six federations for discrimination offenses and imposing other restrictions.