Pitchside emergency care

FIFA SKILL ZONE — 5 FILMS

Each film opens on FIFA's website.

PEAP & ROLE CARDS

The Pre-Match Emergency Action Plan links each key intervention to a pre-assigned colour role, so the team prepares proactively instead of reacting. Use and rehearse it in all football settings — training and matches — adapted to the site and the expertise available.

FIFA's role cards give each member one colour and one set of tasks. Ideally one card per person; in a small team one person may hold more than one role if competent to do both.

THE FIFA MEDICAL SET PIECE

A rehearsed, scripted response: every member has one clearly defined role, stays task-focused and does not interfere with anyone else's. FIFA's toolkit gives colour-coded protocols for on-field interventions, sudden cardiac arrest and cervical spine injury — the colours match the PEAP roles.

PROTOCOLS FOR ON-FIELD INTERVENTIONS

FIFA Medical Set Piece booklet, version 3 (March 2025) — used at FIFA World Cups.

• Team: 8–9 members — one emergency physician plus paramedics / health professionals, trained in the set piece by the FIFA Match Doctor (usually Black, the team leader) 5–7 days before the first match.
• Matchday: present and kit checked by kick-off −2 h; moulages between −2 h and −1 h; always present at half-time and cool-down.
• Entering the pitch: only on the referee's stretcher signal — except a non-contact collapse, when the team runs on at once.
• Ready position: move along the touchline level with the incident and squat with the stretcher.
• Kit: two identical sets — basket, scoop or spine board, head blocks, collar, straps; AED; oxygen; splints.
• SCA: the chance of a good outcome falls by up to 10% per minute. After the third shock and medications the team leader considers extrication, with a mechanical CPR device fitted first where available; without one, use the 10-second stop-and-start carry.
• Neck injury: collar → log roll onto the scoop → straps (centre strap on the sternum) → head blocks → tape → release MILS → basket, 6 people.
• Extremity fracture: full A–E first; hands above and below; analgesia; clean and dress wounds; splint and recheck.

Details are in skill modules 1 to 4.

FIFA POSTERS AND FACTSHEETS

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FIFA Pre-Match Emergency Action Plan (PEAP)Fill in before every match: venue, hospital, team leader and a name for each colour.Set-Piece protocol: sudden cardiac arrestEach colour's tasks from collapse to transfer.Set-Piece protocol: cervical spine injuryMILS, A–E assessment, collar, blocks, straps and extrication with 6 people.FIFA Emergency Care Bag factsheetDesign, full contents and the emergency drugs pouch.Philips HeartStart FRx — travel guidanceHand luggage only; remove the lithium battery before checking it in.

FIFA EMERGENCY CARE BAG

A portable life-saving unit built around human-factors ergonomics: it folds out flat like a table so every clearly labelled item is in reach.

OFFICIAL FIFA DOWNLOADS

• FIFA Emergency Care Manual (PDF, 45 MB)
• FIFA Pre-Match Emergency Action Plan (PEAP)
• Medical Set Piece — Roles within the PEAP (role cards)
• Medical Set Piece — Protocols for on-field interventions (9 MB)
• Medical Set Piece — Sudden cardiac arrest protocol
• Medical Set Piece — Cervical spine injury protocol
• FIFA Emergency Care Bag and AED factsheet
• Set-piece approach for medical teams (2022 paper)
• Simpler means safer: the new Set-Piece toolkit and PEAP (BJSM blog, 2025)