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SHAH ALAM - International Federation of Association Football's (FIFA) anti-racism "X" gesture has become one of football's most recognisable symbols in the fight against discrimination, giving players, coaches and match officials a standardised way to report racist abuse during matches.
However, incidents at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and earlier European club competitions have also highlighted questions over when the gesture should be used and how match officials should respond.
What Is FIFA's 'X' Gesture?
The "X" gesture is a hand signal introduced by FIFA to allow players, coaches, referees and team officials to immediately report racist abuse during a match.
It is performed by crossing both forearms at the wrists, signalling "No Racism" and automatically alerting match officials that FIFA's anti-racism procedures may need to be activated.
The initiative forms part of FIFA's Global Stand Against Racism campaign, which seeks to provide a clear and universally recognised protocol for tackling discrimination on the pitch.
The gesture was first discussed during the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2024, where it received unanimous approval from all 211 FIFA Member Associations.
It was subsequently introduced at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia before being adopted at other major international tournaments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
How Does The Gesture Trigger FIFA's Anti-Racism Protocol?
Once the victim performs the "X" gesture, the referee or match officials are expected to begin FIFA's three-step anti-racism procedure.
Step One: Match May Be Stopped
The referee first assesses the situation after receiving the report. Depending on the circumstances, play may be temporarily halted while officials investigate the alleged abuse.
Step Two: Match Suspension
If the discriminatory behaviour continues after play resumes, the referee may suspend the match.
Both teams are instructed to return to their dressing rooms while stadium announcements inform spectators that the match has been suspended because of discriminatory behaviour.
Fans are also warned that failure to stop the abuse could result in the fixture being abandoned.
Step Three: Match Abandonment
If the racist behaviour persists after the restart, the referee may abandon the match entirely following consultation with the relevant authorities and once it is safe to do so.
The three-stage protocol is intended to provide a consistent global response to discrimination while protecting players and match officials.
Why Has The Gesture Returned To Public Attention?
The "X" gesture returned to the spotlight during Egypt's Round of 16 match against Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following Enzo Fernández's winning goal, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan repeatedly crossed his arms towards French referee François Letexier after allegations that racist insults had been directed at the Egyptian bench by Argentina supporters.
However, instead of initiating FIFA's anti-racism protocol, Letexier issued Hassan a yellow card for what appeared to be inappropriate behaviour in the technical area. It remains unclear whether Hassan was formally attempting to report racist abuse using the gesture.
Television footage also showed Hassan's brother, Ibrahim Hassan, lowering the coach's arms before giving a thumbs-up towards the referee, leading to speculation that the gesture may have been used incorrectly.
Misusing FIFA's anti-racism signal could potentially result in disciplinary action.
Previous Incident Involving Vinicius Jr
The same referee, Letexier, had previously overseen another high-profile incident involving the "X" gesture during a UEFA Champions League knockout match between Real Madrid and Benfica on Feb 17 this year.
After scoring in the 50th minute at Estádio da Luz, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr celebrated with a dance near the corner flag, drawing hostile reactions from Benfica supporters and players.
Following allegations of discriminatory abuse directed at the Brazilian, Letexier displayed the "X" gesture before temporarily stopping the match for almost 10 minutes.
During the stoppage, television replays appeared to show Benfica’s Argentinian winger Gianluca Prestianni speaking to Vinicius while covering his mouth. Real Madrid players questioned why Prestianni remained on the field during the investigation and briefly left the pitch in protest.
The match eventually resumed in the 61st minute.
Following disciplinary proceedings, Prestianni received a six-match suspension for homophobic conduct. Reports indicated the punishment would have increased to 10 matches had the offence involved racist abuse.
Why The Gesture Matters
FIFA introduced the "X" gesture to remove uncertainty over how incidents of racism should be reported during matches.
Rather than relying solely on verbal communication, the standardised signal allows players, coaches and officials to immediately alert referees to discriminatory behaviour, ensuring the same reporting mechanism can be recognised regardless of language or competition.
At the same time, recent incidents have demonstrated that the gesture's effectiveness ultimately depends on its correct use and on match officials accurately determining whether it is being used to report genuine discriminatory abuse.
As football continues strengthening its response to racism, the "X" gesture has become both a symbol of FIFA's zero-tolerance approach and an important test of how consistently anti-discrimination protocols are enforced across the sport.