January 6 – An A-League clash between Perth Glory and Adelaide United, which reportedly left a number of players suffering the symptoms of heat stroke, has reignited the debate over the temperatures it should be considered acceptable for matches to be played and whether player welfare is being sacrificed in the interests of television.
Conflicting reports suggest the temperature was around 39 degrees at kick-off and 35 degrees when the match finished.
After the game Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Adam Vivian said: “Some players have since reported heat illnesses, including excessive weight loss, headaches and vomiting. The PFA will continue to monitor the players’ health and will be conducting further discussions with Football Federation Australia and the clubs.
“We will be asking them to share with us the advice in which they were satisfied the players’ health and safety was not compromised by proceeding with the match at that time.”
Players and commentators have condemned the decision to proceed with the game which was held on a day when the temperature had hit 44.4 degrees in Perth earlier in the day.
Damien De Bohun, head of the A-League, defended the decision to play the game claiming: “We’ve gone to great lengths to take serious medical advice on heat in football, but it’s important to note that the FFA standards are in fact more stringent than FIFA standards and it’s based on medical best practise in both Australia and the United States.”
De Bohun pointed out the scheduled kick-off was delayed by half an hour and insisted that “from our perspective there’s no doubt medically the conditions were safe to start the game.”
De Bohun denied television interests prevented the kick-off being delayed further but did say that the fact Perth Glory star Chris Harold had to leave the field after 24 minutes suffering heat exhaustion “is obviously an issue that we’ll work through.”
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