KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched the latest edition of the AFC Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy.
The move underlines the regional body’s commitment to protecting the rights, safety and well-being of children and young people engaging in football across the continent. Building on the landmark Child Safeguarding Policy introduced in 2022, the 2026 edition has been expanded to encompass all AFC competitions, events and digital platforms.
According to the AFC, this recognises football’s evolving environment while ensuring that comprehensive and responsive safeguarding measures are in place for any child or young person within the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs), as well as the wider Asian football community.
The updated document aligns more closely with the AFC’s Social Responsibility Framework and reinforces the role of child safeguarding and protection in education, awareness and community engagement. At the same time, it provides an outline to support and encourage MAs and RAs in strengthening their own processes.
The 2026 edition establishes consistent expectations for AFC personnel, MAs, RAs, match officials, volunteers and partners, reinforcing a collective responsibility to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and provide secure, inclusive and empowering environments in which every child can participate, develop and thrive without fear of harm.
At the heart of the policy is the AFC’s commitment to ensuring that every child involved in football is valued, respected and heard. Guided by the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirms every child’s right to live free from violence, exploitation and abuse, the policy sets out key principles to guide safeguarding.
These include acting in the best interests of the child by prioritising their safety and well-being, respecting children’s right to participate and express their views, ensuring they are free from discrimination, promoting a culture of child safeguarding regardless of function, level or position, and preventing and responding to child abuse and exploitation.
“The publication of the AFC Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy Edition 2026 further emphasises our firm commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of children at all levels of the game,” said AFC president Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
“More than a sport, football is a powerful platform for education, inclusion and transformation. Through this policy, we aim to harness the extensive reach of the beautiful game to raise awareness, enhance preventive measures and promote proactive safeguarding practices across our Member Associations, Regional Associations and the broader football ecosystem.
“This is everyone’s responsibility. Every coach, volunteer, administrator, official, parent and stakeholder has a vital role to play in ensuring that children are protected from harm and supported to reach their full potential in the best possible environment,” he added.
Designed as an evolving framework, the AFC Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy raises standards to create the safest, most conducive conditions for individuals participating in football and its related activities.
The 2026 edition reflects the AFC’s continued efforts to strengthen a culture where safeguarding is embedded across all levels and functions of the game, building on the foundation of the first iteration in 2022 that marked a milestone in the Confederation’s efforts to fulfil its duty of care and protect the rights of children and young people.
The AFC has also called on all members of the Asian football family to actively contribute to its implementation to help shape an environment where every child feels safe, supported, respected and inspired.
