Recommendations for cardiac screening and emergency action planning in youth football: a FIFA consensus statement

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death is the leading medical cause of death among football players. Determining the optimal cardiac screening, the use of carefully selected medical assessments to detect underlying cardiovascular conditions associated with sudden cardiac arrest/death, is a desired objective of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for football players of all ages. To date, cardiac screening recommendations in football have primarily focused on adult competitive players. Acknowledging its responsibility for player health worldwide, FIFA convened an international working group of cardiology and sports medicine experts to develop cardiac screening recommendations for youth football players. This group performed structured literature reviews and ultimately congregated in January of 2024, when recommendations were presented, scrutinised and judged using a systematic process. The final FIFA recommendations for youth cardiac screening include personal medical history, family medical history, focused physical examination and resting 12-lead electrocardiography. This document provides detailed rationale and clinical recommendations for youth cardiac screening and emphasises the importance of emergency action planning.