Goa Football Association successfully conducted a Medical Seminar on the role of medical support in football tournaments and the management of emergencies on the field of play across two zones in the state. The seminar, mandated by the GFA Executive Committee, was held for the South Zone on August 22 and the North Zone on August 23, 2026, at Fatorda and Duler Stadium respectively.
The sessions were conducted by Dr. Fenton De Souza, an Emergency Physician affiliated to the AFC and FIFA, alongside Dr. Vinod and Santosh Fatarpekar and were attended by club managers and officials from GFA-registered clubs across the state.
The seminar focused on equipping non-medical personnel, primarily club managers and match officials, with the knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively in the event of a medical emergency on the field of play.
Participants were taken through basic first aid procedures, emergency response protocols for cardiac arrests, and immediate on-pitch response measures applicable to inter-village and other football tournament settings.
Dr. Fenton De Souza said, “As a first responder, what we do in a scenario of emergency is critical. We gave club officials a basic first aid course, how to respond in case of a cardiac arrest, how to manage an emergency on the pitch. We look forward to conducting this on a regular basis every six months, and in the future extending it to coaches, referees and players as well, so that we can collectively work together to prevent such incidents and maintain player health at the optimal level.”
On the successful completion of the seminar, GFA President Dr. Caitano Fernandes said, “As I had promised to all clubs participating in GFA leagues, we have today delivered on that commitment across both the North and South Zones. I am very happy with how the sessions were conducted and the quality of the presentations by Dr. Fenton, Dr. Vinod and Santosh Fatarpekar on how we can protect and save the life of a player on the field of play. The GFA has also committed to providing an AED kit to every tournament, along with trained personnel to operate it. I am hopeful that every club that attended today will implement what they have learned at their local tournaments going forward.”
GFA has committed to conducting similar seminars every six months, with future editions extended to cover referees and players. The Association has also indicated that in line with Dr Fenton’s recommendation, ECG screenings, currently standard practice for players in GFA league clubs, should be made mandatory for participants in inter-village tournaments across Goa.
All GFA-affiliated clubs, players and referees are encouraged to participate in upcoming editions of the seminar. Player safety is a collective responsibility, and the GFA remains committed to ensuring that every person on a football field in Goa has the protection they deserve.
