Liberation from reanimation
During Euro 2021, a striking incident on the football field drew global attention. Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed, triggering an urgent reminder of how quickly life can hinge on timely intervention. Eyewitnesses and audiences around the world witnessed a moment that highlighted football as a platform for life-saving action. Eriksen’s incident underscored the possibility of saving lives through immediate care when a heart stops beating and a person stops breathing.
Zoran Bakhtijarevic, UEFA’s leading doctor on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, explains that CPR is the emergency technique used to maintain blood circulation when the heart has stopped and the patient is unconscious or unresponsive. This life-saving procedure can be extended by trained responders until professional help arrives, making rapid action essential in any setting.
Liberation from reanimation
In 2012, Congolese footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed during a Bolton Wanderers match against Tottenham. He did not have a heartbeat for 78 minutes, yet his life was saved thanks to chest compressions that maintained circulation. This example demonstrates that anyone, not just medical professionals, can make a critical difference with the right knowledge and immediate response.
The alliance between UEFA and the European Resuscitation Council aims to expand this knowledge. It seeks to leverage football’s broad appeal to promote CPR training and awareness. Koen Monsieurs, president of the European Resuscitation Council, notes that 80 percent of heart attacks occur at home, underscoring the need for widespread education. Both Bakhtijarevic and Monsieurs advocate making CPR training part of school curricula, workplace programs, and sports club education so that a heart attack can be tackled promptly anywhere and anytime.
First of all, Ceferin
Educate yourself to save lives is the core message. The initiative is planned to begin next year, aligning with preparations around major tournaments. UEFA has already been rolling out training for some time, and the first recipient of the recognition program was UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. The objective is to reach millions, recognizing that if a large number of people are exposed to basic CPR skills, a greater number of lives can be saved during emergencies. An interactive training course is part of the program, led by the former Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit.
Clubs, federations, coaches, and players participate in a series of training sessions organized by UEFA. The planned action protocol will become mandatory across competitions in the upcoming season, signaling a commitment to practical, real-world readiness. The overarching aim is to dispel fear or hesitation when intervention is needed. Proper chest compressions, when performed correctly, pose no harm and can be a decisive factor between life and death for a stricken person. The message is clear: immediate action can save a life and there is no reason to hesitate when someone is in danger.