The All Nepal Football Association is launching a comprehensive and formal safeguarding plan nationwide to ensure all participants can enjoy football in a safe and supportive environment.

The first stage of the plan, which will be implemented with the support of funding from the FIFA Forward Development Programme, is training sessions for 49 female Safeguarding Officers, representing each of ANFA’s district football associations.

According to FIFA, the training sessions are designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to ensure tournaments are organised prioritising child safety.

“Safeguarding Officers will be taught to assess risks and act on concerns, initiate awareness sessions with players, collaborate with local government, and engage empathetically and proactively as community leaders,” stated FIFA. “The sessions will be held in alignment with a new two-year nationwide U-14 school football competition for both boys and girls, with funding from FIFA Forward’s second phase.”