T

he world seemed to be rolling on in its usual hustle and bustle on Sunday until a soccer game at the Surojaya stadium in the East Java town of Lamongan shockingly grabbed everyone’s attention. Persela Lamongan FC goalkeeper Choirul Huda died defending his net.

The incident occurred when Choirul raced onto the ball his teammate Ramon Rodriguez and Semen Padang striker Marcel Sacramento were fighting for. The goalie managed to clear the ball, but at a very high price. His upper abdomen appeared to collide with Ramon’s legs.

Both Ramon and Choirul collapsed in pain, with the latter apparently in great distress. An oxygen mask was applied and Choirul was rushed to the nearby Dr. Soegiri General Hospital, but doctors could not save his life.

Dr. Yudistiro Andri Nugroho said Choirul suffered severe trauma to the chest, neck and head as a result of the horrendous collision that damaged his chest and lower jaw. The traumatic impact blocked oxygen supply to Choirul’s brain, leading to his death.

The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), has assigned a medical team on a fact-finding mission. Joko Driyono, PSSI deputy chairman, said the national soccer body would also seek advice from the world soccer federation FIFA on measures to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.

“If FIFA mandates us to improve our medical assistance arrangement during matches then we will certainly comply,” says Joko. Regulations stipulate that match organizers must provide immediate medical assistance as well as safe and quick passage to the nearest hospital should a player require these.

Sadly, injuries are part of the risks faced by soccer players and indeed all athletes. Before the demise of Choirul a number of soccer players had lost their lives during games.

Argentinian soccer recorded two fatal accidents within one month in 2015. San Martin de Burzaco FC’s defender Emanuel Ortega died as a result of a severe head injury on May 3 and three weeks later another defender, Cristian Gomez of Atletico Parana, died of a stroke.

Choirul is the fourth soccer player to have died as a result of a collision in a game in Indonesia since 2000. That year Persebaya FC legend Eri Irianto died following a collision with Gabonese Samson Noujine Kinga of PSIM Yogyakarta. In 2009, Jumadi Abdi of PKT Bontang FC (not Persiba Balikpapan as this paper previously reported) died in the hospital after being accidentally kicked in the abdomen by Persela Lamongan player Denny Tarkas. In 2014, the same injury cost Persiraja Banda Aceh striker Akli Fairuz his life.

Precaution is therefore key in protecting sportsmen and women. Joko says the PSSI was one of the national soccer federations to have proposed to FIFA the use of helmet-like covers for goalkeepers or if necessary all players, even before the tragedy over the weekend.

The PSSI can actually do more to ensure the safety of players and protect them from foul play. Beyond yellow and red cards that can deter players from committing fouls against their opponents, the PSSI may consider handing down fines to the clubs of the errant players. This mechanism will force clubs to ensure every player complies with the rules of the game, upholds sportsmanship standards and refrains from acts that could endanger their opponents.

Such heavy consequences will also help prevent brawls among rival players, which have quite often marred Indonesian soccer.

According to rules, the accumulation of two yellow cards or a red card can see a player suspended for between one and three games, which means a big loss to a club, particularly if it faces crucial matches.

The PSSI deserves praise for sending a team to find out what caused Choirul’s death. The soccer body is then expected to prescribe measures to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. One recommendation that must be included is to train players to deliver emergency aid in the event of an accident on the pitch. This skill is pivotal as it has been proven to save many soccer players.

Early this year, Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid went critical after an aerial clash with Deportivo La Coruna opposition Alex Bergantinos five minutes into a Spanish league game. Torres’ head hit the ground really hard. Some of his teammates immediately provided first aid by keeping his head stable. They kept assisting Torres until the medical team arrived.

Torres spent a night at a local hospital and he managed to recover. His escape from possible death shows that every second counts when dealing with traumatic injuries, which can happen anytime in a soccer match. Choirul’s life could have been saved too if he had received first aid as soon as possible.

Providing athletes with knowledge and basic skills on first aid could be the right answer. In a soccer match medical teams can only enter the pitch with the referee’s consent, a procedure that can waste precious seconds in a life-and-death incident.

The PSSI, in collaboration with the clubs, could organize regular drills to improve players’ skills in handling basic emergency situations to prevent more deaths in games. Soccer is a sport that both players and spectators want to enjoy. Players’ professionalism is measured not only by their capability in entertaining the crowd, but also in compliance with the values of humanity.

The Choirul case should also testify as to whether this nation treats athletes with the dignity they deserve. Persela, the PSSI and the whole nation should not let Choirul’s wife Lidya Anggraeni and their two sons down following the dreadful loss of their breadwinner.