Fifa’s safety guidelines never followed

Bangalore: The third death on the football field in Bangalore in the last eight years clearly shows that organizers of football tournaments have not taken any of the safety guidelines seriously. The absence of any kind of emergency medical help at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Wednesday once again proved that the no one cares for players' safety. 

    "The player (Venkatesh) was brought dead and there were no signs of life," said Dr Ajit Benedict Royan of Hosmat hospital which is located in the neighbouring compound of the football stadium. 
    After Cristiano Junior's death at the Sree Kanteerava stadium during the Federation Cup final there was lot of talk about the need of emergency medical care at the venue but Venkatesh's death proves that nothing has really changed. 
    "Fifa's guidelines are clear on the need to have an ambulance, paramedics and defibrillators before the start of any match. Sadly we give zero importance to medical care. In most of the tournaments hardly any money is set apart for ensuring medical facilities. The latest death is another sad instance and I hope now at least our officials will learn a lesson," leading sports medicine practitioner Dr PSM Chandran told TOI. 
    Some of the players who watched the death of Venkatesh said the player was not fit for action. "He vomited before the start of the match and even the few minutes he played he could hardly run. Finally he came near the line and collapsed," a player said. 
    If this version is true then it is a clear violation of the Fifa guidelines on players' health. "There are viruses that usually cause only a cold but sometimes an acute inflammation of the heart muscle occurs, particularly with intense exercise. That is why you must never train or play when you have a cold with fever or aching joints. The "above-collar" rule says that any symptoms below your neck are a strict 'NO' to exercise. That means a running nose is OK, but a productive cough is not," it says. 
AIFF may hold emergency meeting: Meanwhile, All India Football Federation secretary Kushal Das told TOI that the death of the player is a serious incident and the AIFF may even call an emergency committee meeting to discuss the matter. 
    "I am told that a player died after he collapsed while he was warming up. I didn't know that it happened during the match," Das said. 
    The top official said he was still awaiting more details from the state body before taking any action. 
PREVIOUS ON-FIELD DEATHS IN INDIA 
Sanjib Dutta – 1993 Kannur, Kerala Cristiano Junior – 2004 BangaloreAllebi Djwrey – 2008 Bangalore