Harry who?! Watkins makes England case as Kane watches on

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Raphinha surprises wonderkid Yamal with £10k gold iPhone

Real Madrid midfielder announces shock retirement in emotional letter

Rodri admits he wouldn't have even chosen Vinicius Jr. as Ballon d'Or runner-up

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

‘Can't think long term’ – Ronaldo admits he may not reach 1,000 goals

Endrick set to be offered 'escape route' out of Real Madrid

Twellman reportedly investigated for physical altercation

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Infantino denounces racism in latest speech</li><li>Varane issues strong response to FIFA president</li><li>United defender says "actions speak louder than words"</li></ul>

Man Utd defender Raphael Varane tells Gianni Infantino 'actions speak louder than words' after FIFA president vows to stamp out racism in football

Premier League

Ipswich

<p>As racism continues to stain the game in all corners of the world and up to the highest levels of the sport, FIFA president Infantino released a video announcing their plans to tackle the issue at the next FIFA Congress. But while Infantino underlined "FIFA's commitment to eradicate racism", Varane responded by saying those words are simply not enough. The United defender feels concrete action is needed for an issue that still happens week in, week out.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Alongside a video on FIFA's official Instagram page, Infantino is quoted as saying: "We know very well that football unites the world, and especially in our fragmented and divided world, football has a responsibility to unite - now more than ever. </p><p>"At the next FIFA Congress which will be held on 17 May in Bangkok, FIFA will present a stance against racism to all our 211 FIFA Member Associations from all over the world. We want to unite the world in this stance against racism because we have seen too many incidents of racism and discrimination to simply call it a reflection of society or offer any other poor excuse. </p><p>We have the tools; we need to put them in place, and we need to get the world - the football world, in this instance, united in our fight against racism. On this, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I want to reiterate FIFA’s commitment to eradicate racism once and for all from football."</p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4xfydqoqsi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
  <div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4xfydqoqsi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">
      <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
        <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
        <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
          <g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
            <g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000">
              <g>
                <path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path>
              </g>
            </g>
          </g>
        </svg></div>
      <div style="padding-top: 8px;">
        <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div>
      </div>
      <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
        <div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
          <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: 8px;">
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-left: auto;">
          <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
          <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
          <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
        <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
      </div>
    </a>
  </div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

WHAT FIFA SAID

<p>The United defender was firm in his response, writing on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/raphaelvarane/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> story: "Actions speak louder than words. As supporters have big expectation on us to perform, we as players have big expectations of our leaders to use their power for good. We will be following closely and hoping for action for change."</p><p></p><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt3e9b65b50f587ba6/Screenshot_2024-03-22_at_12.21.54.png?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt3e9b65b50f587ba6/Screenshot_2024-03-22_at_12.21.54.png?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt3e9b65b50f587ba6/Screenshot_2024-03-22_at_12.21.54.png?format=jpg" alt="Raphael Varane responds to Gianni Infantino 'No to racism'" data-source="IG:raphaelvarane" data-copyright="IG:raphaelvarane" data-portal-copyright="IG:raphaelvarane" perform:prop="uuid:blt3e9b65b50f587ba6;width:844;height:1536"></picture><p></p>

WHAT VARANE SAID

<p>Varane's words ring true amid a calendar year that has already seen several incidents of racist abuse, barely three months in. Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/atletico-madrid-fans-aim-racist-chants-real-madrid-star-vinicius-jr-before-inter-champions-league-clash/blt193969c762e2ec3d" target="_blank">again the victim of vile taunts from Atletico Madrid fans</a> - during a game he wasn't even playing in - earlier this month. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/ac-milan-udinese-paused-mike-maignan-reports-racist-chanting-referee-walks-off-pitch/bltf2b25461449835cd" target="_blank">Mike Maignan forced AC Milan's game with Udinese to be paused</a> after being racially abused in January, and just this week <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/napoli-defender-juan-jesus-reveals-alleged-racist-remark-francesco-acerbi-denial-inter-defender-exit-italy-camp/blt64744d8af555d063" target="_blank">Napoli's Juan Jesus accused Inter defender Francesco Acerbi of a racist remark</a> during their Serie A clash.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>As racism permeates the game, from angry fans <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/everton-fan-racist-abuse-liverpool-mohamed-salah-an-idiot-three-year-stadium-ban/blt78aeb000cacf32e8" target="_blank">in person</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/sheffield-united-tottenham-wes-foderingham-racist-abuse/blta9f2174767c6b8a5" target="_blank">online</a> to even rival players, it is clear that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-force-teams-forfeit-games-fans-racially-abuse-players/blt345e7518e63a9b26" target="_blank">FIFA have to take proper action</a> in order to do their job - supporting the players. Infantino promised for the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-cm/lists/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-statement-automatic-forfeit-teams-fans-commit-racist-abuse-mike-maignan-udinese/blt3ce245849e19f624" target="_blank">automatic forfeiting of matches</a> following the Maignan incident in January, although there is yet to be any tangible progress on laws in that regard.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Man Utd defender Raphael Varane tells Gianni Infantino 'actions speak louder than words' after FIFA president vows to stamp out racism in football | Goal.com

Manchester United star Raphael Varane has responded firmly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino&apos;s latest speech against racism in football.

Man Utd defender Raphael Varane tells Gianni Infantino &apos;actions speak louder than words&apos; after FIFA president vows to stamp out racism in football