FIFA - FIFA has inaugurated the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence Iran within the IFMARC (Iran Football Medical Assessment and Research Center) in Tehran. IFMARC is part of the Iran Football Association which will provide the country’s elite athletes with the highest standards of medical care. IFMARC is the first centre of its kind in central Asia and has been designed to provide excellence in sports medicine, rehabilitation and fitness assessment. Those using IFMARC will also be educated about injury prevention.

By signing contracts with internationally renowned medical professionals from Iran, the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence is capable of providing the highest level of services for male and female players, match officials and coaches. It is hoped the centre will create medical and health data banks for all amateur, semi-professional and professional players, helping with research, injury prevention programs and standardization of football medicine in close cooperation with F-MARC.

Dr Dato’ Gurcharan Singh, Member of FIFA Medical Committee and Chairman of AFC Medical Committee, presented the inauguration certificate to the President of IFF, Mr Ali Kafashian, and Dr Zohreh Haratian, Head of the IFMARC.

Putting plan into practice
It is not just Iran’s athletes, match officials and coaches who have benefited from the high standards of medical care, however. After a 34-year-old fan collapsed at an Iran Persian Gulf Pro League fixture between Zob Ahan and Tractor Sazi, team physician Dr. Nourizadeh was able to react quickly to the incident to ensure the supporter received the necessary treatment.

“Dr. Nourizadeh heard the spectators shouts and reached the victim in less than 50 seconds, starting CPR with using ZOLL AED Pro,” said Zohreh Haratian, Head of IFMARC Centre. “Well-equipped ambulances according to FIFA standards were also available and took the patient to CCU. The patient reported stable and in good condition.”

Prof Jiri Dvorak, Chairman of F-MARC, added: “It is the fourth registered young life being saved since FIFA distributed the FIFA Medical Emergency bag to all MA’s, documenting that we have to continue this way of prevention through education."

The IFMARC Centre is multifunctional and includes a performance section, a gym, recovery and regeneration area, a rehabilitation suite, treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy centre. It is located within easy reach of four football pitches, one artificial pitch, a Futsal arena, a beach soccer pitch and several hotels.

Close by is the Azadi Olympic Complex which houses various facilities, as well as many federations such as basketball, cycling, volleyball and wrestling. It is hoped that the centre will provide specific services to all other sports in the country.