Pompey have thrown their full weight behind the FA's attempts to safeguard young players in the wake of recent revelations about sexual abuse in football.

The club said it was supporting an FA scheme to ensure a safe and enjoyable framework for enjoying football in the wake of recent events.

A film featuring Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton, Jack Rutter and Nathaniel Chalobah explains how both parents and children can raise concerns they have about adults working in football and is centred around how the 8,500 safeguarding officers working across England football take the following four steps: 1) Checked — to ensure adults are suitable to work with youngsters

2) Trained — from coaches to referees, all are given suitable safeguarding training

3) Hear — concerns from both children and adults will be listened to

4) Report — the importance of raising concerns about a child’s welfare Pompey said anyone who has a concern about the welfare of a child or the behaviour of an adult towards a child or young person under 18 years of age in football, is required to refer it to The FA Safeguarding team. The team is staffed by professionals who are experienctd in dealing with these concerns.

Referring a concern can be done via a club, league or County FA — all will have a designated safeguarding officer (DSO). Alternatively, you can email them directly via safeguarding@thefa.com

A Pompey statement said: 'Portsmouth Football Club’s Designated Safeguarding Officer Colin Farmery can be contacted by emailing safeguarding@pompeyfc.co.uk or calling (023) 9273 1204.

'If the matter is urgent and you cannot contact your club or County FA designated safeguarding officer, you can call the NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 — or if it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the police or children’s social care in your area. 'If you are concerned that someone may be behaving inappropriately or seeking to groom a child in an online environment, then please use the CEOP reporting button that will take you directly to the team at the National Crime Agency, as well as informing your County FA or The FA via safeguarding@thefa.com'

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