FIFA is proposing tougher punishments against clubs whose players, officials or fans are found guilty of racism and discrimination – including point deductions, expulsion from a competition or relegation.

The world governing body’s newly created task force held its first meeting at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters yesterday and focused primarily on the application of sanctions in cases of racist and discriminative acts.

Its proposals – which also include having an official to identify potential acts of discrimination, and asking clubs and member associations to provide a “concrete action plan” detailing how they plan to fight the problem – will be included in a draft resolution to be presented at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius at the end of May.

The 12-strong task force includes England’s top referee Howard Webb, Football Association chairman David Bernstein, AZ Alkmaar striker Jozy Altidore, UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay, and Piara Powar, head of the European anti-discrimination body FARE.

FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, who chaired the meeting, said: “We have a special responsibility in the way we can impact football and society.

“One of the opportunities this task force has is its vast reach throughout FIFA’s 209 member associations, where we can implement the resolutions in every region and every country where football is played, bringing universality to the mechanisms that combat racism and discrimination.”