FIFA plans medical research centre

Ljubljana:

FIFA plans to establish a medical research centre in response to a spate of heart-related deaths on soccer pitches across the globe, president Sepp Blatter has said. Blatter's comments came only two days after Slovene goalkeeper Nedzad Botonjic suddenly collapsed and died during training. "We were very much touched by the event, when 28-year-old goalkeeper Botonjic died," Blatter said yesterday during a one-day trip to the Slovene capital, Ljubljana. "We have called the national associations and the clubs to make sure that the players undergo controls," he added. Blatter stressed the importance of cardiovascular testing, adding that soccer's world governing body will next month approve the establishment of a medical centre in the Swiss capital Zurich. The medical centre will help uncover the reasons behind sudden deaths of top athletes, particularly during training or matches, he added. Similar centres will then be set up in other countries to help diagnose problems in advance, and prevent fatalities. (AP)