PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dagmar I Keller
AU  - Mario Bizzini
AU  - Nina Feddermann
AU  - Astrid Junge
AU  - Jiri Dvorak
TI  - FIFA Women's World Cup 2011: Pre-Competition Medical Assessment of female referees and assistant referees
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091436
DP  - 2013 Feb 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 179--181
VI  - 47
IP  - 3
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/3/179.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/3/179.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2013 Feb 01; 47
AB  - Background Precompetition screening was implemented for male referees during the 2010 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Word Cup. In contrast, female football referees have been neglected in this respect although they experience similar physical work loads compared to male referees. Methods The standardised football-specific Pre-Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) was performed in 51 referees and assistant referees selected for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Results Family history for sudden cardiac death (SCD) was positive in four referees (7.8%), but cardiac examinations did not reveal any pathological findings. Training-unrelated ECG changes were identified in three referees (5.9%), all without correlates in echocardiography or clinical examination. Most common echocardiography findings (66.6%, n=34) were asymptomatic tricuspid and mitral regurgitations. Conclusions During the present screening, no elite female referee was identified being at risk for SCD, and no referee had to be excluded from participating in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.