January 29 – FIFA has launched a global safeguarding in sport education programme with the aim of building formal safeguarding capacity across football.
The initiative to educate a greater body of people follows a series of high profile and shocking cases of sexual abuse and harassment at professional and senior federation levels within the game but which are believed to be only the tip of a generally under-reported iceberg.
The FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma is “In line with FIFA’s long-term commitment to professionalise and embed child and adult safeguarding standards across the game,” said FIFA.
FIFA is encouraging all its 211 member associations to enrol at least one person on the course which is designed to be a dedicated, interactive educational resource to develop safeguarding best practice. The programme is also available to anyone working or volunteering in grassroots or professional sport
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “As part of my and FIFA’s absolute commitment and determination to kick harassment and abuse out of sport, the launch of today’s FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma is another critical step in supporting our 211 member associations to place safeguarding best practice at the heart of football and to help professionalise the role of safeguarding officers in sport.”
The course has been developed by FIFA and The Open University (OU) together with global safeguarding experts, and will be available in English, French and Spanish. The programme will consist of five online courses primarily aimed at safeguarding officers at FIFA’s 211 member associations who will have access to dedicated webinars, moderated forums, interactive workshops and assessments that guide the learner through practical steps and examples of safeguarding best practice in sport.
The first dedicated workshop is scheduled for the end of February as part of the ongoing two-year curriculum.
For more information about FIFA Guardians, click HERE.
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