On June 1st, Children’s Day, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) launched the FRF B.R.A.V.O. platform, which stands for Bucurie (Joy), Respect, Afecțiune (Affection), Voință (Willpower), and Optimism — an initiative aimed at bringing joy back into children’s play and combating the pressure coming from the sidelines or stands, whether from parents or coaches.
FRF B.R.A.V.O. draws attention to inappropriate behavior on the sidelines, particularly the verbal abuse directed at children. Such attitudes, along with conflicts with coaches, represent forms of emotional abuse that affect everyone involved in training or matches. Harsh criticism and labels can leave deep emotional scars on children, damaging their confidence in the long run or even driving them to quit sports altogether.
The launch took place on Children’s Day at the National Football Center in Mogoșoaia. The highlight of the day was a visit to the concept locker room of “the generation nobody wants,” followed by the official training session of the national team. In this thematic locker room, children’s jerseys were displayed with insults commonly heard from the stands instead of their real names—such as “Youre AJoke,” “Goodfor Nothing,” or “Notalented.”
These words serve as labels for a real problem: too many children give up sports not due to a lack of talent, but because of the pressure and verbal abuse from those who should be supporting them.
A Manifesto for Change: How We Relate to the Next Generation
The FRF B.R.A.V.O. initiative started from a simple but powerful insight: what children hear from the sidelines can shape not just their game, but their future. B.R.A.V.O. is now a platform through which FRF promotes Joy, Respect, Affection, Willpower, and Optimism in how we engage with young athletes.
“In football, every child dreams of seeing their name on the back of their jersey. But sometimes, parents ‘write’ something else instead. Instead of support, children receive insults and criticism. Instead of joy, they end up feeling shame. Every harsh word becomes a burden they carry both emotionally and on the field. Too many children quit sports each year—not because they lack talent, but because of the pressure from those who should be their support. Through the B.R.A.V.O. campaign, we aim to nurture children’s positive emotions and help create an environment where they can enjoy the game with confidence, freedom, and joy”, said Răzvan Burleanu, President of the Romanian Football Federation.
The initiative includes several key components: a symbolic armband, video and radio spots, digital materials, and educational resources for parents—including the Parent’s Guide and a KIT with 10 rules of conduct, which will be distributed to sports clubs. Additionally, safeguarding courses will be organized, and the campaign’s dedicated platform will feature a special section for reporting inappropriate behavior.
On the official campaign platform, all reporting tools are available to help identify and stop verbal abuse in children’s sports, offering a practical way to support a healthy and empathetic environment.
The locker room of tomorrow’s generation – between shame and dreams
“The Locker Room of the Generation Nobody Wants” will also be present at the national team’s next match on June 10, where visitors will be able to interact with the space and leave their own supportive messages on the outer walls of the locker, in contrast to the negative labels inside. At the same time, children will build a “Wall of Dreams” with jersey-shaped messages bearing positive labels like “Brave,” “Ambitious,” and “Optimistic.”
Also, at Romania’s match against Austria on June 7 in Vienna, the children accompanying the players onto the field will wear the FRF B.R.A.V.O. armband, while in the Bucharest match against Cyprus, they will wear the message jerseys—symbolizing the generation we can raise with respect, not fear.
What we shout from the stands today can become the name of tomorrow’s generation
The FRF B.R.A.V.O. platform marks the beginning of a long-term effort aimed at educating, supporting, and inspiring the younger generations in Romanian football. Its success depends on the involvement of everyone around youth sports: parents, coaches, officials, and supporters.
The words shouted from the stands today may become the labels carried by tomorrow’s children. Those young shoulders can wear names that inspire pride—or heavy burdens. It’s time to turn the pressure on the sidelines into support. The next generation deserves to grow in an environment where the game brings joy, not fear.
Because this cause deserves full attention, the initiative is supported by major media partners: PRO TV, Voyo, KISS FM, Magic FM, Rock FM, Prima TV & Prima Sport, Digi Sport, TVR, Antena 1, and Itsy Bitsy. The Romanian Football Federation thanks them for their involvement!
