How do I report a safeguarding concern, and to whom?

Question

Accepted Answer

Emergency: if a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police or your local Children's Social Care first. Duty to report: under The FA's Safeguarding Children Regulations (Regulation 1.6), every participant must immediately report to The FA any alleged incident, facts or matters about potential abuse or harm to a child, or any sexual offence against anyone. Failing to do so can be treated as misconduct. Who handles what (The FA's reporting chart): What has happened Report to Behaviour that breaks the club, league, session or venue's codes of conduct or FA guidance The club, league, session or venue Welfare or Safeguarding Officer Behaviour that isn't immediately dangerous or intentionally harmful but could escalate if ignored The County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) Serious harm, abuse or exploitation, or behaviour showing a risk of it The County FA DSO, who may escalate to The FA Safeguarding Team, or report directly to Safeguarding@TheFA.com If you're unsure, contact the County FA DSO or The FA Safeguarding Team and they will redirect the concern. The NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000, help@nspcc.org.uk) gives advice. As Welfare Officer, use The FA's Safeguarding Referral Form (Guidance Note 2.2) and liaise with your County FA DSO, who decides whether the concern goes to The FA's Safeguarding Case Management Team. If a child tells you something: stay calm, reassure them they've done the right thing and are not to blame, explain you must involve others to help, and don't promise confidentiality or an outcome. Whistleblowing (when usual procedures have failed): The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com. Not safeguarding: player registration, team selection and playing time are club matters for the club's complaints procedure, not safeguarding concerns in themselves. The FA also notes that the Crime and Policing Act, introduced on 30 April 2026, places a duty on people in key roles working with children in England, including in sport, to report child sexual abuse they are told about, witness or see in images. The FA is updating its guidance while the government prepares detailed guidance.

What has happened	Report to
Behaviour that breaks the club, league, session or venue's codes of conduct or FA guidance	The club, league, session or venue Welfare or Safeguarding Officer
Behaviour that isn't immediately dangerous or intentionally harmful but could escalate if ignored	The County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Serious harm, abuse or exploitation, or behaviour showing a risk of it	The County FA DSO, who may escalate to The FA Safeguarding Team, or report directly to Safeguarding@TheFA.com