South Korea footballers urge safety after extreme heat statistics

South Korean football association urges stronger heat protections in face of rising temperatures. South Korean professional footballers urged stronger protections against extreme heat ⁠after a survey by the Korea Pro-Footballers Association (KPFA) showed many players hit by dehydration, dizziness and temporary lapses in consciousness during competition. It found 86.2% of respondents suffered significant physical strain while playing in the heat, among ⁠536 players from South Korea’s K League and WK League surveyed during a summer when pitch temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Nearly two-thirds (64.7%) complained of dizziness during matches or training, while 56.6% had severe dehydration and 13% suffered lapses in consciousness. “The fact that over 70 players experienced dizziness, dehydration, and even temporary loss of consciousness is a glaring red flag,” KPFA President Lee Keun-ho, a former national team player, said in a statement.

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