June 9 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has unveiled FRF B.R.A.V.O., a nationwide campaign aimed at reshaping the emotional climate of youth football by challenging verbal abuse and sideline pressure.
The acronym stands for Bucurie (Joy), Respect, Afecțiune (Affection), Voință (Willpower), and Optimism—core values the FRF believes must define the way children experience sports.
The launch, held at the National Football Centre in Mogoșoaia, featured a powerful installation: ‘The Locker Room of the Generation Nobody Wants’, where children’s jerseys were emblazoned not with names, but hurtful phrases like ‘You’re a Joke’and ‘Not Talented’– echoing the toxic language too often heard from the stands.
“In football, every child dreams of seeing their name on the back of their jersey. But sometimes, parents ‘write’ something else instead,” said FRF President Răzvan Burleanu. “Too many children quit sports – not for lack of talent, but because of the pressure from those who should be their support.”
The campaign includes educational tools such as a Parent’s Guide, a 10-rule conduct kit, and safeguarding courses. Digital reporting tools will allow inappropriate behaviour to be flagged anonymously.
Against Cyprus in Bucharest, children will don ‘message jerseys’ bearing uplifting words like ‘Brave’ and ‘Optimistic’.
As Burleanu put it: “The words shouted from the stands today may become the labels carried by tomorrow’s children.” The FRF hopes this initiative will inspire not fear, but freedom and confidence in young athletes.
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