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The safety rules
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Sportsmen safety on field should not be compromised at any cost.
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Collision between players is common, hence calls for foolproof safety measures — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
THE TRAGIC death of Dempo footballer Cristiano Junior during the Federation Cup football final in Bangalore has brought into focus the need to ensure greater safety and medical faculties for the players. Sports such as football, hockey, rugby and of course the combat sports such as boxing, judo, taekwondo and karate have an inbuilt element of danger due to the high probability of violent contact which in some rare cases could even result in a fatality. Deaths in the boxing ring have often led to calls for a total ban on the sport.
In the case of Cristiano a probable cause could have been a cardiac arrest perhaps resulting from a sudden impact upon a delicate part of the face or neck. The shock of an unexpected and violent contact may have had devastating consequence. In international football also, there have been several cases of death on the field.
In this respect even the clubs have to play a role by ensuring that their players are fully fit to take the stress and strain of professional sports by conducting regular medical check ups of its players. Ironically, while sport is supposed to make a person healthy, the mental and physical stress of modern day professional sport is such that the effect is the opposite. A player who apparently seems very fit may not really be so.
Nowadays with the sport of football having become much faster, more physical and more competitive, the risk of serious injuries have multiplied. Therefore the need to have top class medical facilities and qualified doctors available on the ground is of paramount importance. Merely having a physiotherapist or masseur as is usually done, is no longer adequate precaution. Moreover a plan of action has to be kept ready if the player in question has to be taken to hospital. The organisers would do well to keep in mind, which is the nearest hospital and also keep the hospital staff informed that they may be called upon, if the need arises.
The unfortunate incident, which took place in Bangalore was the third incidence of a fatality in India says former international footballer Victor Amalraj.
"I was watching the match live on television. It was a one to one clash between the advancing striker and the goalkeeper Subrata Paul.
Under the circumstances a collision was not unexpected. There was no deliberate intention to cause any injury.
After all the sport is a very physical one and body contact is very common. But in rare cases such as the one, which took place this time, it could turn out to have very serious consequences. The medical staff rushed into the ground and tried to revive him but he could not be saved," says Amalraj.
"It reminded me of an earlier incident in 1993 when during the Santosh trophy my friend Sanjeev Dutta met with a similar fate after he was involved in a collision with a rival player. Sanjeev and I used to share the same room during international tournaments abroad.
He was a very talented player and in the prime of youth. Yesterday when I saw the tragedy unfolding before my eyes, I was once again reminded of Sanjeev. Like him Cristiano too was a fine player. It is really sad that the game has lost a player like him," says Amalraj.
ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA
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