Fifa tribute to first black footballer

Arthur Wharton, the world's first black professional footballer Credit: ITV

Football's world governing body Fifa is paying tribute to the world's first black professional footballer.

A maquette statue of Arthur Wharton is being displayed at the headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland in a special ceremony later this morning.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter will be presented with a 2.5ft bronze statue after the organisation made a donation to the Darlington-based Arthur Wharton Foundation.

It's founder, Shaun Campbell, will present the maquette to Mr Blatter. The statue is going on permanent display in the President's Lounge.

Arthur Wharton was born in Ghana, and represented a number of clubs including Darlington FC. The goalkeeper first played for the Quakers in 1883 at Feethams.

Wharton died in December 1930, aged 65.