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Medical report from the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany

Jiri Dvorak¹, Astrid Junge¹, Katharina Grimm², Donald Kirkendall¹

¹ FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland
² Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Zurich, Switzerland

Professor J Dvorak, Spine Unit, Schulthess Clinic, Lengghalde 2, Zurich, Switzerland CH-8008; jiri.dvorak{at}kws.ch

Objective: To continue the injury surveillance of FIFA-sponsored football tournaments and report on other medical aspects of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Design: Prospective epidemiological injury surveillance and descriptive summary of additional medical aspects.

Setting: Major international football tournament.

Participants: National team players, doctors and referees at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

Main outcome measures: Injury type, location and rate.

Results: 145 injuries were reported for the 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany—an overall injury rate of 68.7 per 1000 match hours (95% CI 57.5 to 79.9) or 2.3 injuries per match, in comparison with 2.7 injuries per match in the 2002 FIFA World Cup (p = NS). Physical examinations before participation uncovered no hidden cardiovascular problems. Once the tournament started, no referees were unable to complete their duties. There were no positive doping tests.

Conclusions: The injury rate for this World Cup was below that of 2002, but consistent with the overall injury rate per match since data collection began in 1998. There continues to be no evidence of systematic doping in international football.

Abbreviations: F-MARC, FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre; LOC, local organising committee

Keywords: soccer; football; injury; incidence; world cup

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