A-League kick-off times in spotlight as heat causes concern

THE Asian Cup’s “ridiculous” kick-off times and an A-League match played in dangerous 41C today is a warning Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup organisers cannot ignore.

Melbourne Heart v Perth Glory

THE Asian Cup’s “ridiculous” kick-off times and an A-League match played in dangerous 41C today is a warning Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup organisers cannot ignore, says PFA chief executive Adam Vivian.

Vivian has slammed the kick-off times of some Asian Cup matches and Perth Glory hosting Adelaide United in Perth in inferno-like temperatures today. But he believes those matches could be the catalyst in averting heat-related disaster at the 2022 World Cup where the median daylight summer temperature is 41C.

“This is an area where we have to strongly advocate for change in this space,’’ Vivian said. “This is sort of a pre-emptive thing if you look at Qatar, it’s a prevalent issue.

“I think it’s something that really needs to be addressed at the highest level. Something has to give — we don’t want change to come on the back of a serious illness or worse.”

With one Asian Cup match kicking off at 4pm in Canberra on Saturday — South Korea v Oman — while eight matches kick off at 6pm, Vivian believes the scheduling is not ideal.

“We’re deeply concerned about the Asian Cup,’’ Vivian said. “I do not know what drives those kick-off times — they’re absolutely ridiculous. I don’t think there’s been enough consideration for the health and safety of the players.”

But with Glory hosting Adelaide at 5.30pm (WA time) it’s believed PFA asked for a 7pm (WA time) kick-off after learning of the 41C forecast.

“We will strongly be advocating for a later kick-off,’’ Vivian said. “Obviously the commercial concerns can never outweigh the general health and safety of the players.”

Football Federation Australia yesterday pushed back the Glory and Adelaide kick-off by 30 minutes to 5.30pm in WA (8pm in Adelaide).

Doctors from each club will ultimately decide if the game is postponed for a later kick-off — and only if the decision is unanimous. But it is understood a late kick-off in WA is highly unlikely with Vivian pleased FFA’s heat policy is much tougher than FIFA’s heat policy. The FFA heat policy has an established heat-monitoring system based on the wet bulb globe temperature. Today’s match is predicted to be above what is deemed extreme risk of injury 28C WBGT. FIFA’s WBGT is 32C.

Last year the Glory-Melbourne Heart (now City) clash kicked off in 40C at 5pm in Albury. FFA delayed the kick-off by two hours and allowed three drinks breaks, additional ice for cooling packs, ice baths and water vapour fans in the changerooms and on the benches.

Originally published as A-League kick-off times in spotlight as heat causes concern