LiveScore partners with Emile Heskey-backed Football Safety App

LiveScore has signed a partnership with the Football Safety App to introduce its users in the UK to the free reporting platform, according to a release issued Wednesday 23rd September in London.

The Football Safety App, developed by former England striker Emile Heskey and a developer team in Nottingham, is positioned as a way for supporters, players, officials and club staff to report abuse and safety concerns anonymously and in real time. The company says the app can be used to report incidents in stadiums, on public transport to matches, in pubs linked to matchday activity, in grassroots football, and online.

Reports submitted through the app are reviewed by “trained analysts inside a 24-hour control room,” with “credible incidents escalated to football clubs, safeguarding teams, online platforms and the police where appropriate,” the release said. The company also claims the platform generates anonymised insights to help clubs identify patterns and repeat issues.

Emile Heskey, a director of the Football Safety App, said: "Football is loved by millions of people because of the passion, community and emotion it creates, but we cannot ignore the darker side of the game. Abuse has become too common and too easy for people to hide behind screens or crowds. Whether it is racism, sexism, threats towards players, abuse aimed at officials or unacceptable behaviour towards supporters, it has no place in football.

"This partnership with LiveScore is a huge moment because it means more people will have access to a tool that gives them a voice. The majority of fans are brilliant, but they are tired of seeing the game they love damaged by the actions of a minority. We want people to feel confident reporting abuse and knowing that their concerns will be taken seriously." Dominic Vye, Marketing Director at LiveScore, added: "LiveScore has always been committed to supporting football fans and improving their experience of the game. There is no place for abuse in football, whether that takes place online, in stadiums or anywhere else connected to the sport.

"The Football Safety App provides an important tool that helps supporters report unacceptable behaviour and gives the football community another way to challenge abuse. We are delighted to partner with the team and help make this technology available to a wider audience." The app is backed by ambassadors including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and supported by safeguarding figures Paul Stewart and Peter Reid, the release said, and is available on the App Store and Google Play.