FIFA medics up cardiac monitoring after revealing 84 related deaths in five years

By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest

May 24 – FIFA’s medical experts have called on every footballing nation to be more vigilant in reporting cases of cardiac fatalities to try to work out why they are occurring with such regularity.

After a recent spate of cases including Italy’s Mario Morosini, who died at just 25, and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba who staged a remarkable recovery, an international registry has been set up asking member nations to get in touch as soon as any of their players suffer a serious collapse.

Following a two-day medical conference that preceded the FIFA Congress here, the sport’s top doctors revealed that 84 footballers, both professional and amateur, had died through heart problems over the past five years.

While it was underlined that this was not considered an alarming figure given the amount of football played worldwide, the absence of defibrillators in 80 per cent of cases was a considerable worry.

“The main word for us is prevention,” said Michel D’Hooghe, chairman of FIFA’s Medical Committee.

“We have profoundly discussed cardiac deaths.

“There is an absolute need for a defibrillator on every football field because it could be the difference between a matter of life and death.”

Jirí Dvorák, FIFA’s chief medical officer, warned that the players themselves could do more to help by cutting out cheating.

“Players who fake injuries can make it harder for the referee to identify sudden cardiac arrest and make the appropriate decision,” he said.

Dvorák did not rule out Muamba (pictured above) one day resuming his career.

“He was appropriately treated and we have a big hope that he will play again,” he explained.

“What happened to Muamba brought cardiac arrest to the surface and the response has been overwhelming.”

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