Free Counselling Offered to Victims of Discrimination in English Grassroots Football
The Football Association (FA) has announced a new initiative to provide free counselling and mental health support to victims of hate and discrimination in grassroots football. The move comes as discriminatory abuse on the pitch is on the rise, with 70% of participants, including players, referees, and spectators, reporting that poor behaviour has a major impact.
According to the latest available figures from the 2023-24 season, there was a significant increase in charges relating to discrimination and serious misconduct. The FA's efforts to crack down on bad behaviour have included tougher sanctions for offenders, with an average ban of seven games for discriminatory offences. However, many incidents go unreported, with 70% of grassroots participants doubting that reporting an incident will lead to a charge.
To address this issue, the FA is funding support from Sporting Chance, a charity set up by former England and Arsenal defender Tony Adams. The service offers up to six counselling sessions, either in person or online, as well as self-care methods. This initiative aims to provide victims with the necessary support and resources to deal with the emotional impact of discriminatory abuse.
The FA has also introduced various measures to promote a more respectful and safe environment for players, referees, and spectators. These include issuing stronger punishments for offenders, encouraging participants to report incidents, and implementing a captains-only protocol to reduce heated discussions between teams. Body cameras are also being worn by referees in some leagues to act as a deterrent.
The FA's efforts have been successful, with 63% of reports resulting in charges during the 2023-24 season. However, the governing body acknowledges that much work remains to be done to tackle discriminatory abuse on the grassroots level. The organisation aims to increase participation in football by 200,000 by 2028, and it is essential that efforts are made to create a safe and respectful environment for all players and spectators.
With the free counselling and mental health support service now available, victims of discriminatory abuse can access the help they need to cope with their experiences. The FA's commitment to tackling bad behaviour and promoting a more positive and inclusive culture is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that this initiative will make a lasting impact on grassroots football.
The Football Association (FA) has announced a new initiative to provide free counselling and mental health support to victims of hate and discrimination in grassroots football. The move comes as discriminatory abuse on the pitch is on the rise, with 70% of participants, including players, referees, and spectators, reporting that poor behaviour has a major impact.
According to the latest available figures from the 2023-24 season, there was a significant increase in charges relating to discrimination and serious misconduct. The FA's efforts to crack down on bad behaviour have included tougher sanctions for offenders, with an average ban of seven games for discriminatory offences. However, many incidents go unreported, with 70% of grassroots participants doubting that reporting an incident will lead to a charge.
To address this issue, the FA is funding support from Sporting Chance, a charity set up by former England and Arsenal defender Tony Adams. The service offers up to six counselling sessions, either in person or online, as well as self-care methods. This initiative aims to provide victims with the necessary support and resources to deal with the emotional impact of discriminatory abuse.
The FA has also introduced various measures to promote a more respectful and safe environment for players, referees, and spectators. These include issuing stronger punishments for offenders, encouraging participants to report incidents, and implementing a captains-only protocol to reduce heated discussions between teams. Body cameras are also being worn by referees in some leagues to act as a deterrent.
The FA's efforts have been successful, with 63% of reports resulting in charges during the 2023-24 season. However, the governing body acknowledges that much work remains to be done to tackle discriminatory abuse on the grassroots level. The organisation aims to increase participation in football by 200,000 by 2028, and it is essential that efforts are made to create a safe and respectful environment for all players and spectators.
With the free counselling and mental health support service now available, victims of discriminatory abuse can access the help they need to cope with their experiences. The FA's commitment to tackling bad behaviour and promoting a more positive and inclusive culture is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that this initiative will make a lasting impact on grassroots football.
I'm so glad they're taking steps to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved in the game. Counselling services can really help people deal with the emotional impact of discriminatory abuse, and it's great that they're making these resources available for free 
. It's also awesome to see them implementing measures like body cameras on referees and captains-only protocols to reduce heated discussions between teams 
. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this initiative will make a huge difference in grassroots football and help increase participation, especially among underrepresented groups 
. We all know that 70% of people reporting incidents don't get charged, which raises questions about accountability and who's really being held to account for their actions 
. It feels like some people think they can just behave badly on the pitch and not face consequences, but the FA is finally taking steps to change that 
. The fact that we need free counselling services for victims of discrimination is a symptom of a bigger problem โ our society's tolerance for abuse and harassment needs to be addressed 
. By supporting this initiative, we're acknowledging that it takes courage to speak out against discriminatory behaviour, and that's something we should all be celebrating 
70% of people feel like reporting incidents wont even lead to a charge lol whats the point in even trying? and now theyre offering free counselling? that sounds amazing! 
but seriously though, its not just about the counselling, its about making sure everyone is held accountable for their actions. and btw, body cameras on referees? genius move 
it's so cool that they're taking steps to create a more supportive community, but like, 70% of ppl still dont report incidents because they think nothing will change 
hopefully this new service can help ppl get the support they need and not feel ashamed about what happened to them 
It's heartbreaking to think about all those players who have been subjected to hate and verbal abuse on the pitch, and it's amazing that they're now getting access to free counselling and mental health support. 
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. At least now there's a support system in place for those who do decide to speak out. And hey, it's about time the FA started cracking down on these toxic players - 7-game bans are just the beginning 
. Can't wait to see if this initiative actually makes a difference and doesn't just end up being another PR stunt 
The fact that they're offering free counselling sessions to those who've been affected by discriminatory abuse is just amazing 
, it's like they're giving people a big ol' hug and saying "we gotchu" 
. And its not just about punishing people for bad behaviour, its also about creating a culture where everyone feels valued & respected 
Its time for our sports to step up their game and make sure everyone can enjoy the game without fear of abuse 
meanwhile the fa's just trying to help with free counselling and stuff but 70% of people dont even think reporting an incident will make a diff so whats the point? 
but now thats changing and hopefully we can see a real difference in the coming seasons
i didn't report it at first because i thought nothing would change and i'd just get told to 'toughen up' but then i realized that i deserve better 
but i'm glad they're finally taking steps to tackle this issue head-on 
and let's hope that this free counselling service makes a real difference for people struggling with mental health issues 
I'm all for the FA trying to make things better, but free counselling sessions might not be the answer 
. still, it's about time the FA got its act together on this front 
. maybe if they didn't make it so easy for people to get away with their bad behavior 
. It's absolutely heartbreaking to hear about all those people who have been going through trauma because of discriminatory abuse on the pitch. The stats are mind-boggling - 70% of participants doubting that reporting an incident will lead to a charge? That's just devastating 
this is such a good move by the FA, but I think we need to get to the root of the problem here... what's driving all these incidents of discriminatory abuse? is it just random hate or is there something deeper at play? 
. And six counselling sessions? That's just what we needed back then - someone to talk to about the stress of playing with some dodgy lads