Premier Sports Network have announced a new partnership with TorchStone Global, a risk mitigation and security firm, to combat the increasing security threat from stalkers and criminals to professional sports leagues, athletes and their families.

TorchStone Global is a premier global risk mitigation and security firm, providing customised solutions to address each client’s needs across the entire spectrum of security and delivering peace of mind and confidence in an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world.

TorchStone Global’s mantra, The Business of Before, speaks to their proactive posture and tailored solutions designed to reduce your risk before something bad happens. In today’s world risk has been redefined and preparation is more critical than ever. You only need to look at the news to see how we have become more vulnerable to threats while out in public and engaged in everyday activities.

Earlier this month, AS Roma centre-back Chris Smalling was held by armed robbers inside his own home along with his wife and son in Italy. In France, Paris Saint-Germain players Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos’ families were held hostage at home during a game. According to L’Equipe, the burglars managed to steal a safe from Di Maria’s home containing jewellery and watches worth at least 500,000 euros.

The recent incidents join a long list of stars who have become victims of crime over the last 12 months. Last May, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli was robbed at knifepoint and punched at his home in London. In February this year, robbers with machetes burst into the home of Everton reserve keeper Robin Olsen who was with his wife and kids, while the home of Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti was also raided in Liverpool.

Similarly, there have been a series of high-profile online racist attacks including the targeting athlete, which has led to the world of English professional football to united for an unprecedented four-day boycott of social media this weekend to protest at the continued abuse aimed at players.

Premier Sports Network has entered a valuable partnership with TorchStone Global who will be providing an unwavering focus on the highest-quality protection for sports leagues, players and their families. TorchStone Global’s risk management capabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Home and Workplace Safety

• Threat Intelligence

• Social Media Monitoring

• Physical and Vulnerability Assessments

• Travel Safety

• Lifestyle Management

• Identity and Reputational Management

• Cyber and Technical Safety

TorchStone Global has earned a reputation as a best-in-class risk consultancy company offering pragmatic and cost-effective problem solving and risk mitigation solutions for the world’s most well-known companies, high-profile families and popular sporting events in more than 70 countries across six continents. TorchStone Global differentiate themselves within a fragmented and evolving security industry by combining decades of cumulative, in-house private, public and social sector experience in risk analysis, protection, intelligence, investigations, and psychology with cutting edge technology solutions and a global network of proven risk consultants and professions.

With personnel that have protected major primary candidates, TorchStone Global have international sporting event experience providing security and logistics services at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the upcoming 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, the last 11 NFL Super Bowl games, the last 8 runnings of the Indianapolis 500 and over a decade supporting the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

Spencer Hidge, Founder of Premier Sports Network, said: “Theft and home attacks are getting higher, abuse on social media too. Our relationship with TorchStone Global is imperative to protect professional athletes against these security threats.

“The players are an asset to the club, so it is critical that they have effective security measures in place, and some are spending ridiculous amounts of money on futile security measures, so something needs to change.

“TorchStone Global have extensive experience with a huge list of high-profile clients and I am confident that we can support players and their families in this area.”

Chris Sanchez, Vice President at TorchStone Global, said: “We welcome the partnership with Premier Sports Network and the opportunity to help its members solve their security problems and proactively manage risk.

“Elite athletes are intensely focused, and concerns about threats from criminal gangs or deranged fans can be a huge distraction, as well as potentially dangerous.

“We help identify security solutions that work, without being disruptive to an athlete’s quality of life or their family freedom of movement.”

About TorchStone Global

TorchStone Global is a discreet risk mitigation and security advisory firm serving the unique needs of the world’s leading organisations and individuals. Managed by an elite team of seasoned security professionals, TorchStone Global solves client concerns ranging from Personal Security to Cyber Security to Wealth Protection. We excel during difficult situations and specialise in large, complex engagements by leveraging proprietary resource from around the globe. TorchStone Global provides customised safeguard solutions for clients who seek to protect their most important assets: People, Capital and Information.

For more information, visit www.torchstoneglobal.com