Fraud advise from the Football Association

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity and has been hard at work for over 20-years, supporting grassroots football clubs and organisations to ensure communities up and down the country have great places to play.

Earlier this year, it came to light that the Football Foundation had been a victim of fraud and I wanted to get in touch with our advice around how we can work together to stop this from happening again and help ensure we get money to where it’s needed the most.

Whilst fraud cases are rare, we do take them very seriously and in this instance the small number of cases were identified quickly and the perpetrator was convicted via a custodial sentence.

As a result, those of you who have applied for funding previously will notice our processes for the small grants fund have been updated. This includes enhancing our applicant checking process, with a specific emphasis on applications from Football Clubs.

Here’s our top 5 tips to ensure that your Club does NOT become a victim of fraud:

1. Understand the funding process thoroughly: Before applying for funding, carefully review the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and review criteria. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the process and that your application meets all requirements.

2. Never let others submit funding applications on your behalf: Appoint two authorised signatories from your committee. We only review applications submitted by authorised Club Officials (specifically Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Trustee & Secretary).

3. Update and protect your sensitive information: Keep Club Officials contact details updated on the FA Club Portal, including any changes – for additional security the validity of these individuals and their link to the club will be checked with the relevant County FA. Never share sensitive information like your bank account details or the names and details of authorised signatories.

4. Seek guidance: If you have any doubts or concerns about the funding process, please contact the Facilities Lead Officer at your County FA.

5. Report any suspicious activity: If you encounter any suspicious behaviour or have any other concerns, please contact the Football Foundation immediately: enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk

Transforming grassroots facilities has never been more important and by working together we can help protect the Foundation, and Clubs and organisations against fraud and ensure that much needed investment goes to the Clubs and communities where it is most needed.

We look forward to continuing to support the game,

Robert Sullivan, CEO Football Foundation