Emergency services at venue of first-class football matches

Muscat: All first-division football matches played in the Sultanate of Oman will be transferred to sports complexes in the presence of a well-equipped ambulance and qualified medical crew.

This decision was taken by the Oman Football Association (OFA) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth following reports of lack of facilities to handle emergency situations at some sports venues.

OFA said it will take all measures to ensure the safety and security of players and will ensure that all matches are played in safe conditions.

It added that procedure is a precautionary and temporary measure until permanent solutions are found to provide such service and facilities in all sports club groups in coordination with all concerned authorities.

The sudden demise of an Omani football player recently initiated a debate on the need for mechanisms to handle emergencies, like a heart stroke or cardiac arrest, at public events.

Muscat Football Club player Mukhallad al Raqadi fell during training and died at the hospital before the game began. He was 29 and a budding player for the national team.

Football fans in the Sultanate of Oman expressed their shock at the death of Al Raqadi and highlighted the lack of facilities. They urged the concerned authorities, including football clubs and associations, to corrective measures.

Dr Najeeb bin Zahran al Rawahi, senior consultant of cardiology and electrocardiography at the Royal Hospital, and the first Omani electrophysiologist has said that the heart is a muscle, which can be affected by many factors that may lead to its failure.

Rawahi said cardiac arrest can be caused due to several factors, including ventricular fibrillation (irregular heartbeats), which leads to fainting, end in the event of a person’s exhaustion, it will lead to death. It is necessary for everyone in the target groups to undergo periodic examination. One of the main causes of stenosis of the coronary artery (blockage is high cholesterol, which is common in people aged 40 years and above.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections can also affect the functioning of the heart. It is also necessary to have automatic cardiac resuscitation devices (chest compression machines CPRS) at big gatherings or public events, with people trained in first aid, which will save everyone who may be exposed to heart attacks,” Al Rawahi said.