Draft football association policy aims to protect child footballers

Football authorities may act immediately to suspend anyone suspected of child abuse from participation in football, a draft policy is proposing.

If approved, the rules will empower the Malta Football Association to take interim measures whenever it deems fit in order to protect a child or vulnerable adult.

Andrew Azzopardi, the MFA’s safeguarding officer,  presented the policy last month to the association’s council, which groups representatives of all clubs and affiliated organisations.

“It is important for the association, through its safeguarding officer, to have the power to issue interim measures as a precautionary step to safeguard children,” Mr Azzopardi said.

The interim order has to be ratified or rejected by a safeguarding board that evaluates individual cases. The document Regulations on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults says that a final order will be made by the safeguarding board.

The final order will be an indefinite decision. “A final decision will be reviewed or revoked only if the participant can prove a change in circumstance in their life,” the draft regulations state.

The regulations will apply to football coaches, administrators and others...