Protecting Young Players
The PFANI takes a pro-active approach to safeguarding the welfare of every child/young person, young player or adult at risk. In order to meet our social, moral and legal responsibilities, we follow guidelines set by the Government and The IFA.
SUPPORT
The protection and safety of young players is everyone’s responsibility. The entire PFANI team are committed to making training, playing and learning environments safe and secure.
In partnership with other agencies, we provide appropriate support and care for young players who disclose abuse. We take our role very seriously, and our support includes:
-identifying behaviour that may indicate abuse
-responding appropriately to concerns about possible abuse
-reporting concerns to the appropriate channels
-maintaining confidentiality where possible
REPORTING
If you suspect there is a serious safeguarding risk in football, we urge you to report your concerns to the police, social services or NSPCC immediately.
You should also report this to The IFA as The IFA is the only governing body in football who can intervene to mitigate risk across the game, including issuing suspensions from football.
Youth Protection and Development
Football should be a safe and supportive environment for young players
Children have their own set of internationally recognised rights, which absolutely should be applied to any minor or youth players to ensure adequate protection. The growth and globalisation of football has opened up many opportunities for young players to train with clubs at an early age. However, children are naturally vulnerable in such a high-pressure, competitive atmosphere and face specific risks and challenges in this environment.
The men’s professional academy system has developed into a potential working environment
Youths train at a high-performance level and occasionally compete for first team positions. This creates a very competitive atmosphere that demands full dedication from all participants, despite the statistics that very few of them will go on to have professional careers.
The universal protection of minor players requires a versatile approach
This system should of course feature a strict adherence to the law, but also incorporating moral obligation and global children’s rights which will not also protect minors, but also benefit them.
Young players should not be products for potential profit
Implementing and enforcing children’s rights, as well as offering accessible systems of support and protection for young players, is a fundamental responsibility of the entire football industry.
Other useful links
https://fifpro.org/en/player-iq/foresight/young-players-are-vulnerable-they-need-our-support
The latest Player Health & Performance Impact information from FIFPRO