FIFA Foundation establishes Safe Football Support Unit 

The FIFA Foundation has confirmed the establishment of the Safe Football Support Unit (SFSU); an impartial dedicated unit that will offer specialist guidance and support services to victims of violence, harassment and abuse in football.

People playing football

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset explore ways to strengthen collaboration

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Alain Berset have met in New York, United States on the fringes of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 

European Council Secretary general Alain Berset

FIFA Guardians Safeguarding Essentials course closes in on learners landmark on Safe Sport Day

The FIFA Guardians Safeguarding Essentials course is rapidly closing in on a major milestone, with the 20,000th learner soon set to complete the foundation module as FIFA today joins the celebrations for Safe Sport Day.

Award presentation during the FIFA Safeguarding Summit

Gender equality at the heart of FIFA and GIZ Sport for Women’s Empowerment programme

Sixteen organisations from around the world, three of which are national football associations, to receive funding as part of the first call for project co-financed under the Sport for Women’s Empowerment programme. 

Anahat for Change Foundation (India) 

FIFA and AFD renew agreement to promote access to sport, gender equality and education through football

FIFA and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU) and will continue working together to create positive change in society.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AFD Chief Executive Officer Rémy Rioux during the Signing of the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding 

Football for Schools passes new milestone with incorporation of safeguarding into the programme

The launch for Football for Schools in Vietnam, which took place over three days in March, was especially significant as, for the first time, Safeguarding and Child Protection was added to the programme. 

Football for Schools Vietnam


FIFA Guardians programme continues to grow as new group enrols for Safeguarding in Football Diploma

For millions of children and individuals around the world, playing football is a chance to dream big, learn life skills, make friends, exercise and have fun. And, whatever level they play at, they all have the right to enjoy the game in a safe environment.

Ground-breaking safeguarding programme delivered at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™ 

Safeguarding in tournament football took another step forward during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™ with players benefitting from the support of a comprehensive suite of safe sporting environment initiatives throughout the tournament.

Safeguarding at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 

FIFA and GIZ expand partnership with launch of Sport for Women’s Empowerment Programme

FIFA and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are launching the Sport for Women’s Empowerment Programme, which focuses on gender equality. FIFA and GIZ were put in contact by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Girls play football

"Together, we can shift the needle on the status of safeguarding in sport"

As part of FIFA’s commitment to raising safeguarding standards in football through the FIFA Guardians programme, a Safeguarding Summit was held at the Home of FIFA . We spoke to some participants to hear their views on the importance of safeguarding.

FIFA Safeguarding Summit

First group graduate from two-year FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma at FIFA Summit

As part of FIFA’s commitment to raising safeguarding standards in football through the FIFA Guardians programme, the Safeguarding Summit held at the Home of FIFA on 25 and 26 October had a dual objective.

Award presentation during the FIFA Safeguarding Summit at Home of FIFA

Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee suspends former youth coach for 20 years for sexual abuse

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Jonathan Bukabakwa, former youth coach at clubs of the Urban Football Agreement of the regions of Lipopo and Malebo in Congo DR, from all football-related activities for 20 years.

FIFA sign at the Home of FIFA

FIFA President: Everyone has the right to enjoy football in a safe environment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has taken part in the Safe Environment in Sport Conference held on Friday, 22 September at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, Spain as part of the European Week of Sport

Gianni Infantino took part in the Safe Environment in Sport Conference via recorded video message

FIFA and UNODC renew Memorandum of Understanding to kick crime out of football

FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have reinforced their joint-commitment to kicking crime out of football by renewing their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Ghada Waly sign a memorandum of understanding

FIFA and Team Up to offer unprecedented safeguarding FIFA Women’s World Cup™ support 

In line with FIFA’s commitment to ensuring safe sporting environments for all players, at every level of the game to protect human rights, further ground-breaking steps have been taken throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.

Palu Uhatahi-Tu’amoheloa from Tonga Football Association

FIFA reiterates call for global unity in battle against abuse in sport

Speaking at a hearing of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), members of FIFA’s senior management team restated the global governing body of football’s stance in calling for a multi-sport, multi-stakeholder international solution. 

Visit by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). ©UK Parliament/Maria Unger

Major milestones for FIFA Guardians Safeguarding Diploma 

 More than 60 FIFA Learners from round the world became the first group of trained safeguarding officers across FIFA’s 211 Media Associations

FIFA Safeguarding residential

FIFA files appeal to Swiss Federal Tribunal against CAS award in proceedings involving Yves Jean-Bart

FIFA can confirm it has filed an appeal against the CAS award annulling the lifetime ban from football-related activities against Mr. Yves Jean-Bart before the Swiss Federal Tribunal, requesting its annulment and referral back to CAS. 

FIFA logo

UNODC highlights FIFA’s transfer system reform and safeguarding initiatives  

Important report on corruption, crime risks and wrongdoing associated with the transfer of athletes published.

FIFA emblem at the Home of FIFA

Safeguarding Volunteers making history at FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™

More than 600 volunteers are part of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™. Out of these, 12 young Indians will go down as part of history because of an important responsibility that they have been assigned

First-ever event safeguarding programme implemented at FIFA youth tournament

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022™, held 10 – 28 August 2022, saw the introduction and successful implementation of the first-ever comprehensive event safeguarding programme at a FIFA youth tournament. 

Ziva Henry of Netherlands and Vitoria Yaya of Brazil show a Safeguarding poster

FIFA meets with European Parliament (EP) Sports Group

As part of its commitment to working with international organisations around the world, FIFA and leading members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in sport have met to discuss ongoing collaboration and several key topics affecting football and society.

Visit of EP Sports Group to FIFA

Joyce Cook calls on global bodies to unite and ‘beat the silence’ around abuse in sport

Joyce Cook has reiterated the importance of a unified approach across all governing bodies, federations, associations and authorities when it comes to tackling abuse in sport.

Online exchange of views with independent human rights experts on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

Joyce Cook to assume Senior Advisor role for FIFA

FIFA’s Chief Social Responsibility and Education Officer Joyce Cook has announced that she will assume a new role as a Senior Advisor, working primarily with FIFA on the delivery of an independent safe sports entity.

Joyce Cook

Australian and New Zealand Human Rights Commissions and FIFA publish Risk Assessment

  The Australian Human Rights Commission, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission along with FIFA have today published a Human Rights Risk Assessment for the next FIFA Women's World Cup, to be held in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2023.

Young girls play football in New Zealand

FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma reaches milestone

Following its launch in January 2021, the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma has reached a major milestone recently with nearly 2,000 learners having taken part in the first online course - Essentials in Safeguarding. 

FIFA Guardians UP TO US

FIFA announces collaboration with Australian and New Zealand Human Rights Commissions

FIFA Human Rights collaboration with Australia and New Zealand

The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ trophy

FIFA and CARICOM enter into landmark collaboration agreement

FIFA and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration, with the aim of promoting sports integrity and social responsibility while furthering the development of football in the region.

OFC strengthens safeguarding commitment in landmark webinar with FIFA

A momentous OFC-FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Football Orientation Webinar has successfully concluded with participants from nine OFC Member Associations, OFC staff and FIFA Development Office - Oceania all participating.

FIFA-Guardians-Safeguarding-in-Football

FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma receiving worldwide interest as first webinar begins 

Following the launch last month, the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma has taken an important step with the first webinar taking place this week with FIFA Learners from around the world taking part.

FIFA_GUARDIANS_FIFA.com

FIFA launches major new global education programme to strengthen and build safeguarding capacity across football

FIFA today announced the launch of the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma – a major new global education programme designed to strengthen and professionalise safeguarding standards across football.

FIFA Guardians

Participants hail informative AFC-FIFA Safeguarding Orientation Webinar

The landmark AFC-FIFA Safeguarding Orientation Webinar has successfully concluded after more than 100 participants from 46 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) member associations (MAs) and all five AFC regional associations (RA) joined the online prog...

FIFA and UNODC launch cooperation tackling crime and abuse

FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have jointly reiterated their commitment to address threats posed by crime to sport and stressed the importance of cooperation through the landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed...

UNODC, FIFA partner to kick out corruption and foster youth development through football

It’s up to all of us 

Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for profit and numerous other purposes.

Children train during a FIFA Grassroots schools program, on January 17, 2019 in Dakar, Senegal

FIFA Guardians continues momentum with PACE child safeguarding and protection panel

Following the recent launch of the #SafeHome campaign, a joint initiative by FIFA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission to support women and children at risk of domestic violence, FIFA representatives joined leading policy ...

FIFA launches FIFA Guardians™ safeguarding toolkit for member associations

New child safeguarding toolkit for member associations presented at United Nations headquarters

Cook: FIFA is totally committed to safeguarding

In 2018, FIFA and several key stakeholders established an expert working group to assist with the development of a FIFA child safeguarding programme. The working group includes child safeguarding and protection specialists from the Council of Europe,...

FIFA Guardians™ presentation

Relive the Safeguarding Programme event

FIFA will launch a Child Safeguarding Programme and Toolkit at an event at the Middlesex County FA headquarters in London on Wednesday 10 July.

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