Romanian union AFAN and league agree to alter kick-off times to protect players from extreme heat

• Temperatures in the Romanian capital Bucharest last week surpassed 40°C on the SuperLiga's opening weekend, with code orange and code red heatwave warnings issued in certain regions
  
  
• It brought into question the welfare of players having to compete in extreme heat during the late afternoon and early evening
  
  
• AFAN worked with the Romanian Professional Football League to alter kick-off times for the league's second round of matches to protect players from extreme heat

Romanian player union AFAN coordinated with the Romanian Professional Football League (LPF) to alter SuperLiga kick-off times to protect players from extreme heat.

Temperatures in the Romanian capital Bucharest last week surpassed 40°C on the campaign-opening weekend, bringing into question the welfare of players having to compete in extreme heat during the late afternoon and early evening.

AFAN President Emilian Hulubei said: "Taking into consideration the extremely high temperatures, the numerous warnings issued by the authorities on the risks that may occur, and the fact that code orange and even code red heatwave warnings were issued in certain regions, we requested LFP take the necessary measures to schedule games as late as possible, in order to ensure safe playing conditions that can allow players and all those involved to carry out activities without exposing themselves to additional risks."

LFP acted swiftly to the union’s request, quickly reaching an agreement with broadcasters to move kick-off times to 19:00 and 22:00 for the second round of SuperLiga games. Four cooling breaks per match were also implemented.

At present, FIFA guidelines state that if there is a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) of more than 32°C (89.6°F) cooling breaks are mandatory in both halves of a match, around the 30th minute and 75th minute. The decision on whether to suspend or cancel the match is at the discretion of competition organisers.

Manal Azzi, International Labour Organization’s Occupational (ILO) Health and Safety Team Lead, said: "While many workers are exposed to increasing risks due to extreme heat, athletes do work in a particularly physically demanding job in which they face unique challenges for which specific responses need to be formulated, through cooperation between management, players and their collective representatives. At the same time, we see that many national governments are adjusting heat-related legislation to protect workers and adapt to a warming planet."

FIFPRO believes that current guidelines do not do enough to protect the health and performance of players and recommend among other things that if there is a WBGT between 28-32°C tailored to the local circumstance, cooling breaks should take place around the 30th minute and 75th minute.

Training and matches should be rescheduled if the WGBT exceeds levels that are specified in joint heat protocols – and that as a maximum should be set at 32°C.

"The human body maintains a constant core temperature that usually ranges from 36.1°C to 37.8°C – and in extreme heat, players are at risk of suffering from heat-stress disorders such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat strokes," said FIFPRO’s Chief Medical Officer Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge.

"To prevent or mitigate this risk and thus to protect players’ performance and health, better guidelines relying on WBGT, or on the ambient temperature, should be implemented and enforced."

Constructive dialogue at Football Sustainability Summit 

The news of the Romanian player union and LPF jointly agreeing measures to protect players and other participants from extreme heat came shortly after FIFPRO Europe and Player IQ hosted a seminar on player workplace safety and extreme weather in the framework of the Football Sustainability Summit 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director Global Policy & Strategic Relations, said: "The discussions in Berlin with key stakeholders including UEFA, World Leagues Associations and the ILO clearly showed that the industry will need to further anticipate the needs of players, participants and the game in a changing climate.