FIFPRO hosts workshops on reporting sexual abuse for 40 unions

The workshops, in four sessions over three days, were hosted by FIFPRO and led by Kat Craig, a FIFPRO advisor who has assisted hundreds of athletes across multiple sports including football.

"We rely heavily on players who have experienced abuse to alert us, but we rarely acknowledge just how difficult it is to take that first step to speak about abuse," Craig said.

“It is our responsibility to create a culture that is welcoming and safe for players to report abuse and to make sure we don't add to the trauma and risk they might already face."

Over the last two years, FIFPRO and affiliated player unions have worked on improving the procedures to protect players, preserving their right to remain anonymous when giving evidence against their abusers.

The workshops were a chance for unions to discuss best practice, including ways to create a safe environment and empower women to challenge abuse.

In recent cases of abuse in Afghanistan and Haiti, senior football executives used their position of power to abuse young women. After players bravely gave evidence against them, the executives were banned from the sport by FIFA.

“It’s an enormous step for someone who has been abused to make that first step and so it’s important to create a culture that is welcoming for players to report what can be extremely traumatic”

— by Kat Craig, FIFPRO advisor

During the workshops, player unions discussed their experiences. Sharing knowledge and building a network of experts is the best way to help unions handle reporting of abuse and minimize distress for players, Craig said.

Player union representatives who attended the workshops expressed their commitment to continue developing the best possible procedures.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm to continue engaging on this issue and a desire to learn from each other," said Craig, who has experience in gymnastics, boxing and karate among other sports.

Carlos Figueroa, president of the Guatemalan football player union, which recently began representing women footballers, said he found the workshop extremely helpful.

“Sexual abuse, and other types of abuse, are unfortunately common in football and we have to be ready to give our players the best possible advice,” he said.