FIFA put the proposal to a vote across its member associations, and it passed unanimously, clearing the way for a unified, worldwide protocol to deal with racist abuse. As FIFA president Gianni Infantino put it when the system was first tested at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

Now, if a player is targeted by racist abuse, they cross their arms at the wrists to form an “X” and signal it directly to the referee.

That gesture is the trigger. From that moment, the referee is expected to activate FIFA’s three-step protocol, a structured escalation system designed to give players protection in real time, not after the damage is done, as explained by Inside.fifa.com

If things don’t improve when play resumes, the match escalates.

Players are instructed to head to the dressing rooms, and the game is formally suspended. Another stadium announcement follows, spelling out the consequences if the abuse continues.