If you are an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse in football, please follow the link below to see more information on support and reporting
If you are worried about a child, stay calm and report it. Doing nothing is not an option.
If a child shares a worry such as being mistreated, harmed, or receiving unwanted/inappropriate attention, reassure them they’ve done the right thing, explain you must involve others to help, and do not promise confidentiality or outcomes.
What about Safeguarding Adults at Risk?
For concerns about an adult at risk, see Section 10 on The FA Safeguarding website for what to do and how to report.
Who should you report your concern about a child to and how?
If it’s an emergency and a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.
Football’s safeguarding network includes designated people in clubs, leagues, venues and County FAs, as well as The FA. Trained individuals across this network work together to manage concerns effectively.
Safeguarding concerns vary in nature and risk. Every concern needs an appropriate response led by the right people. The chart below will help ensure your concern gets to the most appropriate person to respond to it:
CLICK HERE for a list of County FA Designated Safeguarding Contacts, as detailed above.
Mandatory Reporting (Child Sexual Abuse)The Crime and Policing Act, introduced on 30 April 2026, requires people in key roles working with children and young people in England, including in sport, to report sexual abuse.
A report must be made if someone:
• is told about child sexual abuse by a child or an adult involved;
• witnesses child sexual abuse;
• sees or hears it in images, video or audio.
It is also a criminal offence to prevent someone from reporting child sexual abuse.
While the government prepares detailed guidance on how the reporting duty will work, we are updating our policies, procedures, guidance and training to include it and will communicate widely to support understanding across the game.
