FIFA observers are to attend certain qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in a bid to crack down on racism, the world football governing body said Tuesday.
"As part of the new monitoring system, specially trained Anti-Discrimination Match Observers will be appointed to games that have been identified as high risk," FIFA said in a website statement.
"After every monitored match, the Match Observer will provide a report within 24 hours to FIFA's disciplinary body, which will analyse the information and decide on the potential opening of disciplinary proceedings."
FIFA president Joseph Blatter welcomed the move, saying: "I'm very happy to see this programme taking shape and being rolled out first for the 2018 qualifiers.
"The new monitoring system is a very concrete measure in order to ensure that football sends a clear message for diversity and against any form of discrimination."
