Football safeguarding needs training and strong leadership, study finds
Loughborough research says organisational culture matters alongside safeguarding training.
Research led by Loughborough University says safeguarding in football depends on more than mandatory training. The studies found that education improved knowledge and confidence, but leadership, clear procedures and dedicated resources were needed to turn policy into everyday practice.
The researchers examined safeguarding in football through two studies. One looked at the experiences of people who completed safeguarding training in the UK, while the other examined the work of FIFA learners responsible for implementing safeguarding across national associations.
The first study found that training helped participants recognise welfare concerns and understand how to respond. The university said the findings supported the value of education for coaches, volunteers, officials and welfare officers.
The university said the research also identified organisational conditions that affected implementation. These included leadership commitment, clear procedures, dedicated staff, awareness-raising and approaches adapted to local cultures and circumstances.
The findings could have implications across football, from grassroots clubs to elite academies. A policy can exist on paper without changing behaviour if people lack time, authority, resources or confidence to act when they see a concern.
Loughborough said the research would inform StepChange 2026, an online event in November involving football organisations including FIFA and The FA. The event is intended to discuss how research-informed safeguarding can be applied in elite player pathways.
The study does not provide a guarantee that training prevents abuse or other harm. Its contribution is more limited and practical: it identifies several conditions that researchers say make safeguarding systems more likely to work. Implementation remains the responsibility of football organisations and governing bodies.
The university’s findings suggest that safeguarding requires support beyond an individual welfare officer, including committed leadership, clear procedures and dedicated staff.
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Fact-check Approved · Priya Shah — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The claims are supported by Loughborough’s research release. The article is careful about the limits of a university summary and does not claim that safeguarding training alone eliminates risk.
- confirmed The research was led by Loughborough University and published on 23 October. — University press release. source
- confirmed Training improved knowledge and confidence among participants. — Reported in the university summary of the first study. source
- confirmed Leadership, clear procedures and dedicated staff were identified as important. — Reported in the university summary of the second study. source
Editor's note
The article accurately reflects a university research release and avoids claiming that training alone prevents harm. The underlying studies are described in the release, but full publication details were not available in the open source reviewed.Sources
- Research highlights how football can create safer environments for children — Loughborough University
- StepChange 2026 – From Paper To Pitch — Safe Sport International
More on this in other media
- The Independent — „football safeguarding”
- BBC News — „football safeguarding”
- The Guardian — „football safeguarding”