FIFA launches new safeguarding initiative - FIFA Guardians

To optimise for archiving, the original image and related documents associated with this article have been removed.

World governing body of football, FIFA, have launched a new global programme dedicated to enhancing child safeguarding standards within the sport.

The new initiative named, FIFA Guardians, will provide practical guidance to each of the 211 member organisations in reviewing their existing safeguarding measures through a series of training modules and workshops.

The FIFA Guardians toolkit will be based on five principles and five steps that are underpinned by recognised international standards.  Such measures will become a requirement to receive member association funding from FIFA .

The initiative comes following a number of historical child abuse cases in sport that have come to public knowledge, including the British football sexual abuse scandal in 2016, the Larry Nasar, former USA Gymnastics national team doctor case, and most recently the sexual allegations towards the Afghanistan Football Federation from the Women’s national team.

FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, said: “FIFA’s vision is to promote the game of football, protect its integrity and bring the game to all. In realising this vision, we aim to ensure that involvement in football, in any form, is a positive experience for all children.” The programme is also expected to develop for the protection of vulnerable adults.

Please click here to view the FIFA's statement. 

You may also like

View All

World Aquatics requests reassessment of neutral athlete ban ahead of Lublin 2025

World Aquatics has called on European bodies to reconsider the ban which prevents Russian athletes from competing as neutrals at the European Aquatics Swimming Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland which will take place from 2-7 December 2025

Read More

World Athletics v Esther Gitahi

A decision in the case of World Athletics (WA) against Esther Gitahi has been issued by the World Athletics Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal (DAT)

Read More

Australia denies visa to convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde ahead of Beach Volleyball World Championships

Convicted child rapist and Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was allowed to complete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has been denied an Australian visa for the upcoming Beach Volleyball World Championships

Read More