Safety First

Injuries at Premiership, Football League and international football matches in England and Wales fell to their lowest recorded level during the 2003-04 season, according to figures released by the Football Licensing Authority this week.Injuries at Premiership, Football League and international football matches in England and Wales fell to their lowest recorded level during the 2003-04 season, according to figures released by the Football Licensing Authority this week.

At one injury per 27,432 spectators, they were significantly down from the one per 20,723 recorded in 2002-03. The rate was less than half that recorded five years ago. Over 90% of these injuries were minor and were treated on the spot.

Quoted in a press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, FLA Chief Executive John de Quidt said: “These figures are a great achievement. Going to a football match in this country has never been safer. This is largely due to better safety management and the majority of the grounds being all seated.

“It reflects the hard work and excellent relationships between ourselves, the football clubs, the local authorities and the police. You are now probably less likely to be injured at a ground than at home doing DIY! The challenge now is to maintain the pace of progress and to avoid complacency.”

The main summary of the report is, as follows:
- The downward trend in reported injury rate continued from one injury per 20,732 in 2002-03 to one injury per 27,423 in 2003-04. The overall total fell from 1,729 to 1,408.
- Attendances rose by over 6%.
- The number of injured spectators taken to hospital fell sharply from 205 in 2002-03 to 127 in 2003-04.
- Over 65% of those treated were either ill or had pre-existing injuries sustained outside the ground.