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).Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4What are the key talking points before Man Utd’s new season? What to knowlist 2 of 4Premier League form guide: Ranking the title contenders for 2026-27 seasonlist 3 of 4Premier League is back: All to know as the 2026-27 season kicks offlist 4 of 4Arsenal defend title against revamped challengers as Premier League returnsend of listNearly 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.The union called on the Korea Football Association (KFA), K League and WK League to introduce mandatory heat protocols, saying the current safeguards do not sufficiently protect players.The KFA told the Reuters news agency that player health and safety remained its “absolute top priority” and that it fully acknowledged the concerns raised by the players’ union.The governing body said it was taking steps to reduce heat-related risks, including adjusting match schedules and enforcing cooling-break protocols during ⁠games, while also noting some logistical challenges.“While we face certain practical constraints, including ⁠stadium availability and tight scheduling limitations, KFA is continuously monitoring conditions to make every possible effort to prevent any heat-related incidents,” South Korea’s governing body said in a statement on Friday.