"We are strengthening our action": how French football wants to protect its young licensees

“The FFF has decided to step up its action to protect its licensees, boys and girls, especially the youngest.

It is Florence Hardouin, the general director of the largest sports federation in France who announces the announcement on the occasion of the International Day of the Rights of the Child this Saturday.

The 3F has 2 million licensees and a million of them are under 18 years old.

“This plan, takes up the number 2 of the federation, concerns all forms of mistreatment and violence which are issues of society such as the fight against discrimination.

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In 2019, the FFF conducted an experiment in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports by automatically crossing the files of its licensees with that of the judiciary to identify the perpetrators of sexual and violent offenses. The goal ? Avoid that a person already suspected of sexual abuse, but not only, is in contact with young footballers. This experiment was carried out on the territory of the Center-Val de Loire League: "It allowed the generalization of this control to all the licenses of educators and club managers for this 2021-2022 season", specifies the federation which welcomes this experience which it was the first to set up.

As a result and in theory now, parents can be reassured: no recognized sex offender can be a football educator: "Our plan," resumes Florence Hardouin, involves concrete actions of checks on volunteer supervisors and assistance for clubs. and graduates boys and girls.

It also obviously involves prevention and training.

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"The football club has a strong social and educational role"

This prevention has been going for a few days through a telephone number, 01.45.33.85.62. At the end of the line, the Ethics and Sports committee, child support professionals and psychologists are ready to listen and above all to answer all questions and anxieties. They are there, too, to act, to free the floor and not to leave problems unresolved. An educator who harasses morally? A leader who does not behave appropriately?

A problem in the family unit? It is necessary to call, without delay: "This number is available, for all the clubs, licensees and parents confronted with a possible situation of mistreatment", warns the federation. “Thanks to the mobilization of players in the field, Leagues, Districts, clubs, insists the director general of the federation, football plays a preponderant role for the well-being and development of the youngest. The football club has a strong social and educational role. "

In mid-December, for the 22 leagues and 91 districts across the country, a new practical guide "Protect our licensees" will be distributed and available to 14,000 amateur clubs, women's D1, National 1, 2, 3 as well as to training structures, Hope centers, professional club training centers.

On the occasion of this international day, the facade of the FFF boulevard Grenelle in Paris (15th century) is lit in blue, not the color of the jersey but that of Unicef.