GFSN Campaigns
Tackling Homophobia in the Professional Game
Over the last twelve months we’ve been talking a great deal about how we can do more to tackle homophobia in football and have held a series of meetings with the various footballing agencies, gay rights groups and politicians.
As a result of these a number of our members have approached us about ways in which individual GFSN members can get involved. We are delighted to announce we have agreed a scheme with The FA to support professional clubs to tackle homophobia.
From next season (2007/2008) each club will amend its ground regulations to make homophobia a specific offence which is a big step forward in itself and we want to provide advice and guidance to clubs to ensure that this will be managed effectively.
Our proposal is simple – to appoint volunteers from the GFSN and/or from the gay and lesbian football teams, to act as “Liaison Officers” for each club in the FA Premier League and Football League.
So what’s the Role of the Liaison Officer?
Each Liaison Officer will be assigned a club which they will contact on behalf of the GFSN and The FA. Their role could cover a number of aspects however their main function is to assist clubs in the implementation of the new ground regulations. This may include:- providing guidance to clubs on how to identify and manage homophobic incidents off the field;
- supporting clubs to manage any specific incidents that might arise throughout the season;
- obtaining statements of support and assisting clubs to publicise these;
- supporting clubs to publish anti-homophobia information in the match day programmes, website and stadium screens;
- promoting reporting lines to fans;
- setting up tacking homophobia advisory groups;
- promotion of their own club and/or the GFSN itself to attract new members; and
- supporting the club to arrange awareness days.
The GFSN and The FA will provide full training with regards to this role as well as sharing of examples of good practice and a support pack of information.
What happens next?
If you’re interested in volunteering, please let us know which team you would like to cover and whether or not you would be willing to take a different team if yours has already been taken. If anyone wishes to cover their local non-league team then we’re happy to extend this initiative to include those. We will then assign the volunteers to the various teams, initially taking into account support and geographical location, but otherwise it will be first come first served.
We will be holding a training workshop and reception at The FA Headquarters in Soho Square in August 2007 to prepare Liaison Officers to approach the clubs at the start of the 2007-08 season.
