Geneva - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights believes football is behind the times and must "catch up" with modern society on social issues. Navi Pillay, who grew up and worked as a lawyer in Apartheid South Africa, is also concerned women remain severely under-represented within the game. She said: "It is time for football to catch up with 21st century values of respecting diversity." And she added football "has to respect human rights law". Speaking in Geneva, the former international criminal court judge, who hosted a panel discussion on racism and sport with AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng yesterday, believes football must move with the times on issues such as accepting gay players, combating racism and promoting the role of women. "It is time for football to take a lead and particularly problematical here is continuing in old archaic ways saying football is a man's world. It's not." Pillay is a long-standing champion of human rights and famously won the right for Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners held on South Africa's Robben Island to have access to lawyers. She insists sport cannot be immune from universal legal values. "Football also has to respect human rights law," said the South African. Fifa is due to appoint its first female member to its powerful executive committee later this year, but Pillay is concerned that women remain scarce in key positions at club level.
Recent racism in football:
18 March: Two West Ham fans arrested over racially aggravated public order offences in Premier League match against Chelsea
18 March: Inter Milan fans charged for racist behaviour against Tottenham in Europa League
26 February: Inter fined after fans abuse AC Milan's Mario Balotelli in Milan derby
6 February: AC Milan vice-president accused of using racist language to describe Balotelli
30 January: Lazio fined for racist chanting in Europa League games against Tottenham and Maribor
3 January 2013: Kevin-Prince Boateng walks off pitch after chanting from rival fans (FA)
