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Written question asked by Alicia Kearns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 September 2026. It was answered by Stephanie Peacock (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Football: Misconduct

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has assessed the impact of competition rules in grassroots football that award points to teams when fixtures are not fulfilled due to safeguarding concerns; and whether she has had discussions with relevant governing bodies on ensuring such rules do not discourage clubs from prioritising player welfare.

Answer

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26147
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Football Misconduct Regulation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk