‘Footballers vulnerable to cardiac arrests’

The death of footballer D Venkatesh on the field on Wednesday has indicated that footballers are most affected by cardiac arrests.

Running for 90 minutes in a sport as intense as football can take a toll. The regularity with which players clash with each other means a nasty hit on the chest could result in cardiac arrest.

“In all sports, men in their late 20s can also suffer heart attacks. There is greater risk in football,” said Dr SR Sarala, scientific officer of sports medicine at the Sports Authority of India (Bangalore).   

“In football, players are prone to a lot of collision injuries. They might get hit by another player’s elbow or knee. The impact causes cardiac tamponade,” said Dr Sarala.

Brazilian player Cristiano Junior died after being accidentally hit by Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Pal during a match in Bangalore in 2004 while Ivory Coast footballer Attebi Djawrey Abale, 24, died while playing an inter-collegiate match in 2008.

Dr Sarala said players sometimes do not know they have medical problems. “Others do not report injuries,” she said. “There are ways to be careful - pre-participation examination of players is needed and there should be a record of long-term illnesses and other problems in the body. Any of these things or an existing heart condition can lead to sudden death.”

In fact, International Football Federation rules mention that all teams must have doctors, but it is never followed. “The All India Football Federation should correct this. Also, the coach must be careful. Any seasoned coach will know and anticipate health issues with players,” Dr Sarala said.

It takes basic precautions to ensure tragedies do not happen on the field. There was no doctor or ambulance at the ground when Venkatesh lost his life. Lack of concern from officials results in tragedies like the one on Wednesday.