Safeguarding the Future of Young Players: GFA and CAF Equip Division One League Referees to Combat Player Trafficking and Exploitation

In a proactive and groundbreaking initiative by CAF, referees in the Access Bank Division One League were informed of the fight against the trafficking and exploitation of young football players.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), launched this anti-trafficking campaign as part of CAF's broader Safeguarding Campaign.

This initiative seeks to protect vulnerable young athletes from exploitative individuals who exploit their dreams of playing abroad.

By integrating referees into this campaign, the association is leveraging their unique position within the game to act as frontline defenders against trafficking, marking a new chapter in Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding young talents.

During the training, referees were provided with a detailed understanding of the tactics often employed by fraudulent agents and unauthorised academies who target young players.

These exploiters typically lure young talents with promises of trials or placements with foreign clubs, often using deceptive social media campaigns or connections with fake scouts to appear legitimate.

Once these players leave Ghana, they may find themselves in precarious situations, including abandonment or coerced into signing exploitative contracts with no legal recourse.

Through case studies and testimonials, the training highlighted the real-life dangers these young players face, enabling referees to recognise and respond to red flags that could indicate a trafficking attempt.

The training also underscored the critical role referees can play in identifying and preventing player trafficking within the league and local football communities.

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