Former England and Liverpool star Emile Heskey has called for an end to abuse of everyone involved in football and believes a new app will help make the international game a better sport for everyone involved.
Emile Heskey has revealed that he didn’t want his sons to take up football because of the abuse they suffered throughout their careers. Former England and Liverpool striker Heskey believes the culture within the game has now become toxic.
He believes no one is immune to abuse, including players, managers, referees, commentators, club staff and their families. Mr Heskey is so concerned about the problem that he has decided to launch a ground-breaking football safety app that will tackle abuse online and on matchdays with real-time reporting.
His sons Regan and Jayden Heskey both spent their professional careers at Manchester City, making their debuts for Pep Guardiola’s side earlier this season. But Heskey admits he never encouraged them to play professional football because of his own experiences with abuse.
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Heskey said: “I’ve struggled with racism throughout my career, but back then it was primarily in the stands and in the newspapers. Now it’s everywhere: on social media, at home, on my kids’ phones. It’s not just racism and sexism, because white players are also being attacked online.”
“There are many incidents where management is being threatened, staff are being abused on a weekly basis, and commentators are being targeted. We keep saying we are in the minority, but that minimizes what is actually happening. The scale and intensity of the abuse has grown beyond that.
“Watching my sons win games brought this all into focus for me. I don’t want them to be abused online just because they play football.
“We don’t want this to happen to our academy kids, match day officials, female players or coaches. Enough is enough.”
Heskey has decided to lead the launch of ‘The Football Safety App’, which will enable supporters, players, staff, officials and families to instantly and anonymously report abuse wherever it occurs.
He added: “Transport is now a major new flashpoint. Anyone who travels by train on matchdays knows how quickly things can change. And it’s not just football fans who get caught up in it; families, commuters and staff get involved too.”
“People should be able to travel safely, and this app finally gives them a way to encourage them to do just that.
“This is the deterrent that has been missing in football. When people know there is accountability, their behavior changes.
“And with police forces under pressure, collecting evidence, time stamps and patterns to do the groundwork and help them is a huge step forward.”
The Football Safety app is in the final stages of testing and is expected to be released by the end of 2025.
Organizations, leagues, clubs and supporter groups can register their interest at www.footballsafetyapp.com.
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