Players at increased risk of mental health problems says Fifpro
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Players at increased risk of mental health problems says Fifpro

Sports

Reuters
10 April, 2020, 10:40 am
Last modified: 10 April, 2020, 10:47 am

Related News

  • Indonesia to drop outdoor mask mandate as Covid-19 infections drop
  • WHO: Covid-19 falling everywhere, except Americas and Africa
  • N Korea reports first Covid-19 outbreak, orders lockdown
  • 34 volunteers chose to get covid. Here’s what scientists learned
  • Setback for Shanghai's Covid battle; Beijing focus on mass testing

Players at increased risk of mental health problems says Fifpro

One issue at the moment, Fifpro says, is that players are usually focused entirely on their profession and may find themselves with a void when they have no matches to think about.

Reuters
10 April, 2020, 10:40 am
Last modified: 10 April, 2020, 10:47 am
Photo: Courtesy
Photo: Courtesy

Professional footballers often live alone in a strange country, far from their families and work in a high-adrenaline profession where they can be heroes one day and forgotten the next.

Not surprisingly, they are prone to mental health problems and the global players' union Fifpro says the uncertainty caused by the novel coronavirus crisis will make that worse, with women especially vulnerable.

"Mental health is a huge consideration," Fifpro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann told Reuters Television in an interview.

"We have, from studies over the years, seen there are elevated risks for anxiety and different psychological problems for players compared to the general population because it's a tense and precarious employment for most of them and (this) makes it worse."

Football around the world has been brought to a standstill by the pandemic with domestic leagues put on hold and the Euro 2020, Copa America and Olympic football tournaments postponed for one year.

Top players have come under pressure to accept wage cuts to help their clubs through the stoppage, however Fifpro says this is not an option for many outside the biggest leagues who often struggle to make ends meet.

"We have many young individuals who are on their own, away from their home countries, they often have no family support in these countries and many of them literally have one-year employment contracts," said Baer-Hoffmann.

"That creates enormous distress about whether they will have any kind of income coming in at the end of this season."

In a survey published in 2015, Fifpro found that 38% of active players and 35% of former professionals faced depression or anxiety problems at some stage.

One issue at the moment, Fifpro says, is that players are usually focused entirely on their profession and may find themselves with a void when they have no matches to think about.

In a bid to help the players, Fifpro has published advice under the title "Keep your mind sharp".

It reminds them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and sleep patterns, stay connected via social media, follow a routine and take breaks, such as listening to music or watching a favourite TV show.

It advises players to "focus on what you can control as we sometimes fixate on events outside of our control."

Players should follow the news, it adds, but not too much.

"Avoid reading everything on Covid-19 in the news or on social media because this can unnecessarily amplify stress or worry," it says.

Some national players' unions, meanwhile, have set up hotlines to help their members.

Baer-Hoffman said women players might struggle more as their living conditions were often inferior to those of male players.

"They are on their own, sitting in a small apartment that the club is providing with hardly any social interaction or family support nearby and that creates enormous pressure mentally," he added.

Football

Fifpro / Coronavirus

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • US growth seen outpacing China’s for first time since 1976
    US growth seen outpacing China’s for first time since 1976
  • Students suffer over costlier food at public university canteens
    Students suffer over costlier food at public university canteens
  • A worker displays grains of wheat at a mill in Beirut, Lebanon, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
    Russia can offer 25 mln tonnes of grain for export starting on 1 Aug: UN envoy

MOST VIEWED

  • Shoaib Akhtar hits back at Virender Sehwag over controversial 'chucking' remark
    Shoaib Akhtar hits back at Virender Sehwag over controversial 'chucking' remark
  • Photo: Reuters
    French Open draw makes Djokovic the favourite to win it this time
  • Photo: Bangladesh Boxing Federation
    Professional boxing enters a new era in Bangladesh as Sura Krishna Chakma and Alamin bring the nation glory
  • Photo: BCB
    Tireless Taijul once again takes charge when the team needs it most
  • Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu gets one-year jail term
    Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu gets one-year jail term
  • Photo: BCB
    No Taskin or Shoriful in Bangladesh squad but Mustafiz being considered for West Indies Tests

Related News

  • Indonesia to drop outdoor mask mandate as Covid-19 infections drop
  • WHO: Covid-19 falling everywhere, except Americas and Africa
  • N Korea reports first Covid-19 outbreak, orders lockdown
  • 34 volunteers chose to get covid. Here’s what scientists learned
  • Setback for Shanghai's Covid battle; Beijing focus on mass testing

Features

Mohammad (Mejbah) Mejbahuddin, Former Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh. TBS Sketch

‘No project is being delayed too long at the moment’

3h | Panorama
Dr Shamsul Hoque, Professor, Civil Engineering, BUET. TBS Sketch

‘Planning commission only in the name, there are no planners’ 

3h | Panorama
Masrur Reaz. TBS Sketch

‘To ensure accountability, contract financing should be based on ‘performance based payments’

4h | Panorama
Professor Mustafizur Rahman. Illustration: TBS

Project delays and escalating costs are driven by frequent revisions and lack of good governance

7h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Ways to retain body fragrance

Ways to retain body fragrance

5h | Videos
Gazipur restaurant that serves 150 food items

Gazipur restaurant that serves 150 food items

8h | Videos
How to prepare for a job

How to prepare for a job

9h | Videos
Putin's strategies to face Nato

Putin's strategies to face Nato

21h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
Representative Photo: Pixabay.
Bangladesh

Microplastics found in 5 local sugar brands

3
Mushfiq Mobarak. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Panorama

Meet the Yale professor who anchors his research in Bangladesh and scales up interventions globally

4
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

5
The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter
Industry

The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter

6
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab