South Korean veteran footballer Hong Myung-bo has been named as an anti-racism ambassador for FIFA, the world's football governing body.

The Korea Football Association said that Hong, who has been working to foster football leadership following his retirement from the sport, was appointed along with 30 international soccer stars to exert efforts in the fight against racial discrimination.

FIFA President Joseph Blatter first proposed the idea to organize a group of ambassadors dedicated to the special cause.

Selected ambassadors include ten retired players or leading figures in the sport such as Hong and Brazilian soccer legend Pelé as well as some 20 incumbent players including Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry of France.