Gdańsk Hosts SAFER Partners, Football Supporters Europe as Research Phases Begins

Partners of the Erasmus+ funded SAFER (Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy) met for the first in-person meeting of the project at the University of Gdańsk, Poland earlier this month (14th – 15th April, 2023) 

Football Supporters Europe (FSE), as lead partner, were joined by representatives from the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (Germany), the University of Gdańsk (Poland), Atletico San Lorenzo (Italy), Autoridade para a Prevenção e o Combate à Violência no Desporto (Portugal), FanNetværket for Kvinder (Denmark), and the European Football Development Network (Netherlands).  

SAFER sees supporters and a cross -section of experts and football stakeholders working together to tackle gender-based violence and discrimination in the game by establishing prevention and remedy mechanisms for football fans and other match attendees.  

Over the two days, partners discussed and progressed the initial tasks in the project’s work including the beginning of the research process as well as identifying pilot site football stadiums to focus on. Additionally, they had the opportunity to exchange their experiences and ideas related to the subject matter more generally. 

Whilst in Gdańsk, the SAFER project’s dedicated website (saferproject.eu) was launched, which will be at the centre of disseminating the project’s progress and outcomes. A SAFER newsletter is live on the website and can be subscribed to by signing up at the bottom of the homepage.  

Mattia Angelini, FSE’s EU Projects Specialist said following the meeting: “Bringing the partners together for the first time and the discussions that took place leaves no questions about the significance and necessity to achieve the aims and objectives SAFER is working towards. The partners come from a broad range of society who all have a stake in tackling gender-based violence in football. It was very encouraging to see the discussions in the room at such an early stage in the project.” 

Radoslaw Kassowski, Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Gdańsk added: “I am delighted that the University of Gdańsk is one of the partners in the SAFER project and that we hosted the first in-person meeting. Our university takes the social responsibility of research very seriously and is keen to be involved in projects that combine research with social engagement. The SAFER project is an excellent example that science and social action can go hand in hand. We spent two intensive, productive days in Gdańsk, and I’m sure that every future project meeting will be the same.” 

Following the meeting, the next steps will see the project partners collaboratively decide on the pilot sites that will be the focus of research and remedy and prevention implementation.  

The next in-person meeting will see EFDN host the project partners in Breda, Netherlands in early 2024.

Related news

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

Workshop Recap: Dynamics of Abuse – Gender Based Violence The month of March marks International Women’s Month – a time to remember and honor the historical fight of women around the world on issues that challenges their existence. Committed to our goals of amplifying women and girls’ voices and their experiences in sport, the Athletes […]

READ MORE

Episode 3: “Sometimes We Can’t See”

Episode 3: “Sometimes We Can’t See”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the third and final episode of our research series on violence in sports: “Sometimes We Can’t See.” In this video, we explore why violence is often normalized in sport – and why it’s so hard for athletes, coaches and others to recognise when they see it, when […]

READ MORE

Letter to FIFA Re. Human Rights Responsibilities in 2026 World Cup

Letter to FIFA Re. Human Rights Responsibilities in 2026 World Cup

Human Rights Watch Letter to FIFA May 5, 2025 Gianni InfantinoPresidentFédération Internationale de Football AssociationFIFA-Strasse 20, P.O. Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland Subject: FIFA’s Human Rights Responsibilities in 2026 World Cup Dear Mr. Infantino, We write to express grave concerns about the impact of current United States immigration policies on the 2026 FIFA World Cup and […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Aerial shot of four crew rowers on teal water with Title: Behind the Statistics with blue highlight and eyebrow header above

Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute […]

READ MORE

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

Workshop Recap: Dynamics of Abuse – Gender Based Violence The month of March marks International Women’s Month – a time to remember and honor the historical fight of women around the world on issues that challenges their existence. Committed to our goals of amplifying women and girls’ voices and their experiences in sport, the Athletes […]

READ MORE

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Submission to UN Human Rights Report on a World of Sport Free Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Countering Hate and Discrimination Against All People Impacted in Sport The world of sport is often perceived as a place in which none of the burdens and inequalities of society take place or could possibly exist. Embedded by ideals of excellence, respect and friendship, its philosophy often misleads people to discount the importance of critical […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.