PARENTS throughout Kent have been left confused by FA and KCFA child protection guidelines for photographing children playing football.

The KCFA’s child protection officer, Val Hajialexandrou, has written to all junior and youth leagues warning parents and guardians to only take pictures of their own children on match days.

She said: “Many parents are either totally opposed or unhappy that their children are being photographed or videoed. Failure to adhere to these guidelines would be construed as a breach of the FA’s Child Protection Policy and action may be taken should any complaint be received."

Yet the KCFA and the FA were this week unable to clarify whether the guidelines meant team photos cannot be taken without the permission of every parent or how under 18s playing football for senior clubs in the county are affected.

Mrs Hajialexandrou said parents must have the final say on whether images of their children are taken at matches.

She urged all clubs to visit the FA’s website (www.thefa.com) and download and distribute the official image protection form so parents can choose whether or not their child is photographed.

“There was a problem in Kent last season of unknown people turning up at matches and taking pictures of children playing and we are simply trying to raise awareness of the FA’s policy. Team managers will know which children’s parents do not want pictures appearing on websites or in the local press,” she said.

One Maidstone-based club secretary, who did not wish to be named, said the guidelines are unworkable and lacked commonsense.

“It seems the lunatics have taken over the asylum,” he said. “Will we have team photos with some players missing and what about at the end of the season when clubs are celebrating winning a trophy?

“We all understand and support the need for child protection but the situation is in danger of getting out of hand.”

A spokesman for the FA said there were concerns over how images of players were being used, particularly on the internet. About 40,000 people had attended the FA’s child protection and best practice workshops.

In June the FA began an on-going internet survey of child protection policies at clubs across the country. Managers, parents and club secretaries are being questioned and the first results will be published later in the year.