FIFA has unveiled efforts to ensure a more joined-up global approach to tackling racism, including the creation of a standard, crossed hands gesture players can use to communicate a racist incident.

The “Global Stand Against Racism” proposal, which Fifa says is the result of extensive consultation with male and female players around the world, will be presented to all of its 211 national associations at Congress in Bangkok tomorrow.

The first “pillar” of the proposal calls for racism to be made a specific offence which is included in all associations’ disciplinary codes on a mandatory basis, and that those codes should provide for “specific and severe” sanctions, including match forfeits.