Changing Portugal’s gender violence perception, one goal at a time

In Portugal, where domestic violence remains a largely underreported problem, there are high hopes football can play a vital role in changing society’s perception and reaction to abuse.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and the Association for Victim Support (APAV) report their collaboration is yielding results, in the context of the European Union’s GOALSCORE project.

Through this initiative, designed to help identify cases of abuse and combat gender violence among adolescents, the FPF has put its focus on training sessions with teams, involving players, coaches and all staff.

The federation organises communication campaigns targeting parts of FPF’s audience that can be influenced by the visibility of their athletes raising awareness about the issue.

“Football is par excellence a team and sharing sport where values ​​and empathy are consolidated. The locker room can and should have a safe space, a starting point for troubleshooting. Training, when applied according to the methodology this project teaches, can unblock and alert spaces for gender violence and the importance of reporting safely,” FPF representatives told Euractiv.

The influence of football in the country is substantial, and APAV helps coaches and sports professionals with the tools to recognise, prevent, and respond to gender violence, and/or help players recognise behaviours that are considered violent.

“This partnership with the FPF seeks to foster a safe environment where young women, in particular, can engage in sports without fear of discrimination or abuse.”

Societal change

Although the phenomenon of gender violence is a complex one, the project is already yielding results on the field. The FPF says this effort has garnered the attention of civil society, the media and beyond.

“The increasing involvement of players, coaches, technicians and managers, who are looking for information and ways to analyse and debate the problem of gender-based violence, has been very interesting,” FPF representatives told Euractiv.

Changing behaviours in society is a hard process, argue APAV activists, but the implementation of GOALSCORE has led to increased awareness within sports communities, especially among young athletes and their families.

“Parents and coaches have shown greater interest in addressing these issues within their teams, reflecting a growing societal recognition of the importance of addressing gender violence in sports.”

A good example of that is the “Women’s Football Festival”, where more than 900 players participated in educational activities aimed at promoting a better understanding of gender violence.

Importance of education

Analysing the lessons learned through this unique experience, where a football association and a human rights NGO have joined forces to make a change, the FPF admitted the process has been quite intense, a representative saying: “[...] not only at the level of our national teams through the methodologies learned at GOALSCORE, but also through the training of employees of the FPF and our partners. The debate on gender-based violence has become transversal to all areas and is not limited to the team that internally leads the project.”

For APAV, it has been an opportunity to reinforce the powerful role sports can play in social change, particularly in combating gender violence. The key to all this is integrating gender violence education into sports coaching.

“The project has revealed gaps in awareness, especially among younger players, about what constitutes gender-based violence. Some participants did not recognise behaviours such as controlling social media as forms of abuse. This has reinforced the need for continuous education in sports environments and the development of practical, easy-to-use tools for coaches and athletes,” said APAV.

Resources and guidelines for victims

For individuals experiencing gender violence, APAV provides several key resources. Victims can contact the free and confidential helpline ‘116 006’ for immediate support. APAV also offers informative brochures and online resources that outline how to recognise signs of gender violence, provide tips on how to support victims, and offer contacts for further assistance.

In the sports context, coaches and team managers are encouraged to maintain open communication channels with players and to be vigilant in identifying potential cases of violence. Victims can access legal, psychological, and social support through APAV’s services.

Another resource developed by APAV in partnership with Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth) is the “Manual for the Protection of Children and Young People in Sports”.

This manual focuses on protecting minors in sports environments and aims to prevent violence, including gender-based violence, through education and structured intervention.

It highlights the risks that children and youth face in sports, defines different types of violence, and offers guidance on how coaches, and sports professionals can recognise and act upon suspicious situations of abuse.

The manual also outlines strategies for fostering a safe and inclusive sports environment, emphasising the importance of early intervention to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young athletes.

[Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]