December 7 – UEFA has introduced a women’s health expert panel with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and their alarming occurrence in the women’s game.
Following an acceleration in ACL injuries over the past two years, UEFA are developing a plan aimed at improving prevention, sending out a questionnaire to players, coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, etc.
Multiple female players, including England’s Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, missed the Women’s World Cup earlier this year due to significant injuries. In the Spanish League, in 2022, 19 female players suffered ACL tears including Alexia Putellas, Jana Fernández, Cata Coll, Tere Morató and Bárbara Latorre
Reports from Barcelona-based Cugat Institute suggest that women are four times more likely to suffer from this particular injury compared to their male counterparts from the age 14, coinciding with the hormonal changes.
“Addressing the prevalence of ACL injuries in women’s football is crucial for the wellbeing of athletes and the advancement of the sport,” UEFA Chief Medical Officer Zoran Bahtijarevic said.
UEFA’s ACL injury awareness campaign will begin in the latter half of 2024. In a statement, UEFA announced that the initiative will be “focused on the prevention of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and on raising awareness of this problem.”
“The questionnaire will not only allow us to gather information and learn more about the current level of awareness on this issue, but also to collect concrete data that will serve as the basis for our consensus and our prevention programme.”
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