A Brighton based app developer is spearheading a national fightback against football abuse alongside former England striker Emile Heskey.
Francis Beasley, a local tech specialist who has worked on global brands including Nike, Hotels.com and Guinness World Records, has been revealed as the technical force behind a groundbreaking new safety app, designed to stamp out toxic behaviour both online and on matchdays.
The Football Safety App is a world-first platform enabling fans, players, officials and families to report abuse instantly and anonymously.
The app, fronted by Heskey, aims to tackle abuse across stadiums, public transport, pubs, fan zones, academies and social media, creating real time intelligence that clubs, safeguarding teams and police can act on immediately.
Francis, who was born and raised in Brighton, said the project was deeply personal.
He said: ” Football has always been part of my life, just like Brighton, but the level of abuse that has become normalised, particularly online, is completely out of control. The new app is about giving people a simple and trusted way to say enough.”
With more than 14 years of experience building large scale mobile products, Francis has helped turn startup ideas into fully deployed apps and has worked with more than 40 early stage companies in recent years.
Francis added: “If this new technology can protect even one child, referee or family travelling home after a match, then it is worth it.”
The Football Safety App is being launched with the backing of Emile Heskey, who earned 62 England caps and made more than 500 top flight appearances but says the modern culture of abuse has become so toxic that he never encouraged his own children to pursue professional football.
Emile Heskey said: “I suffered racism throughout my career, but now abuse is everywhere. It’s on social media, it’s in your home, it’s on your kids’ phones. And it’s not just racism or sexism anymore. Players, managers, referees, women’s football and even commentators are all being targeted.”
Recalling a World Cup qualifier in Croatia where he was subjected to racial abuse for the entire match, he added: “It happened so often back then that it almost became normalised, and that’s the most worrying part of al. I do not want my kids, or anyone else’s children, growing up thinking this behaviour is simply part of the game.”
Every submission made through the app will be sent to a 24-hour control room, where trained analysts assess reports, filter out misuse and escalate genuine cases to clubs, safeguarding teams, the Premier League, EFL, SPL, the FA and, where appropriate, the police. The aim is also to roll this out throughout Europe and work closely with UEFA and FIFA
Emile said the platform could become the deterrent football has been missing.
He added: “When people know there’s accountability, behaviour changes, and with the pressure police are under, anything that helps by collecting proper evidence, timestamps and patterns is a massive step forward.”
The platform also tackles matchday abuse on trains and public transport, where behaviour often spills over and affects families, commuters and staff.
“Anyone who travels on matchdays knows how quickly things can turn. This app finally gives people a way to call that behaviour out.”
The app will be free to download and use, automatically checking fans into games and offering rewards for engagement, while clubs participate via a small monthly subscription and receive detailed safeguarding insights.
Emile believes the majority of supporters will back the initiative.
Now in final testing, The Football Safety App is set to launch before the end of the year, with discussions already underway with several professional clubs.
Francis said that bringing the project to life from Brighton carried particular meaning.
“Building this from my base in Brighton carries huge significance for me,” he said. “If something created here can help change football culture nationally and protect people across the game, that’s something I’m extremely proud of.”
The app can also be used to tackle abuse at grassroots level.
Organisations, leagues, clubs and supporter groups interested in partnership or early adoption can register their interest at www.footballsafetyapp.com.
