South Asian Football Federation has taken significant steps to strengthen safeguarding throughout the region. Central to this effort is the appointment of Safeguarding Officers in each Member Association, forming a regional network led by SAFF’s Head of Safeguarding and Social Responsibility, Ms. Fatimatuz Jahara Esha.
South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants in football across its seven Member Associations (MAs):
Key Aim
Building Trust and Confidence by Upholding Rigorous Safeguarding Protocols in Competitions
With an unwavering commitment to child and participant safety, SAFF has set a clear vision: to ensure football across South Asia remains a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for all. The Federation’s mission is to embed safeguarding into the DNA of South Asian football, not merely as a policy, but as a collective responsibility shared by administrators, coaches, players, and fans alike.
Through policy development, strategic partnerships, education, and capacity-building, SAFF continues to lead the way in creating environments where football is free from abuse, exploitation, and harm.
Competition Safeguarding
Since November 2022, SAFF has pioneered a Competition Safeguarding Protocol that now stands as a benchmark in regional football governance. It is the only regional football association in Asia — and among the very few globally — to have successfully implemented a safeguarding protocol in every single youth competition since its introduction.
This ground-breaking initiative was developed in alignment with the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Child Safeguarding Policy and tailored to suit the unique dynamics of South Asian football. The protocol ensures that safeguarding is not an afterthought, but an integral part of event planning and execution.
From pre-tournament briefings to real-time monitoring and post-event evaluations, the protocol encompasses a wide array of measures aimed at preventing harm and responding swiftly to any reported concerns. Safeguarding Officers are present on-site during competitions, safeguarding awareness is raised among teams and staff, and confidential reporting mechanisms are made readily available — including physical drop-boxes in team changing rooms.
This protocol was notably and successfully implemented at the SAFF U20 Women’s Championship 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, setting a precedent for all future events. The unwavering enforcement of this standard across youth competitions has reinforced SAFF’s position as a regional leader in safeguarding, committed not just in policy but in practice.
Gallery intro: Discover the dynamic world of SAFF through images that inspire, connect, and celebrate the game.
Recognising that awareness and education are the cornerstones of meaningful safeguarding, SAFF has spearheaded a series of impactful regional seminars to build capacity among its Member Associations.
The journey began in November 2021, when the Ground-breaking Regional Safeguarding Seminar took place in Malé, Maldives. It was the first of its kind in the region, introducing foundational safeguarding principles and encouraging national associations to begin developing their own policies.
Building on this momentum, SAFF hosted its second major event in August 2023 — the Safeguarding in Football Seminar in Kathmandu, Nepal. This workshop convened safeguarding officers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Pakistan, offering deeper engagement on practical safeguarding implementation and fostering a regional community of practice.
Most recently, in March 2024, SAFF concluded its third seminar in Colombo, Sri Lanka, focused exclusively on Competition Safeguarding. This session brought together officials from all seven Member Associations and was conducted in collaboration with the AFC and FIFA. Delegates received intensive training on risk assessments, managing safeguarding cases at competitions, and implementing the regional safeguarding protocol.
Each of these seminars underscores SAFF’s belief that safeguarding is a shared responsibility and that real change happens when people are equipped and empowered to act.
Discover the dynamic world of SAFF through images that inspire, connect, and celebrate the game.
Social Responsibility
Beyond its internal safeguarding commitments, SAFF has embraced a broader social responsibility mandate. Football, in the region’s eyes, is not merely a game — it is a platform for education, protection, and transformation.
Among SAFF’s most celebrated initiatives is the launch of “KICK OFF”, a five-part animation series developed in 2023 in collaboration with the AFC Dream Asia Foundation. Tailored for children and young players between the ages of 11 and 17, the series addresses key safeguarding topics such as physical and emotional safety, online threats, child abuse, and mental well-being — all through relatable characters and engaging storytelling.
The series has been translated and adapted across SAFF nations and continues to serve as an accessible educational tool, enabling children, parents, and coaches to understand safeguarding in a format that resonates across cultures and communities.
Discover the dynamic world of SAFF through images that inspire, connect, and celebrate the game.
SAFF’s safeguarding journey, though still in progress, has already yielded significant results that demonstrate its unwavering dedication to child and player protection.
Discover the dynamic world of SAFF through images that inspire, connect, and celebrate the game.
