Bringing attention to FIFPRO’s Drake Football Study project

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Sam Kerr Football and PARK
Image credit: IOIO IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

Initiated in 2019, the Drake Football Study is a decade-long research project dedicated to monitoring the physical and mental well-being of football players. Spanning ten years, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the long-term health impacts of playing football, offering a comprehensive analysis of both physical and psychological aspects as they evolve over time.

The study initially enrolled over 170 male and female players, capturing data from the early stages of their playing careers and continuing to track their journey as they transition into retirement.

Recent findings from the Drake Football Study have uncovered that 20 percent of professional women’s footballers experienced disordered eating within a 12-month timeframe, which is 1 in 5 women. These results highlight a significant concern within women’s football, underscoring the prevalence of disordered eating patterns among athletes.

The most recent sub-study, titled Unmasking Mental Health Symptoms in Female Professional Football Players, also indicates that female footballers are nearly twice as likely to experience sport-related psychological distress following each surgery. These findings shed light on the significant mental health challenges faced by women in professional football, particularly in the aftermath of surgical procedures.

Among the 74 players surveyed in this sub-study, 55 percent reported experiencing sport-related psychological distress within a 12-month period, a rate consistent with findings across other elite sports. Additionally, three percent of these athletes reported engaging in substance misuse during the same timeframe.

These statistics highlight the pervasive mental health struggles within the professional football community, mirroring trends seen in other high-performance sports.

Over the past decade, FIFPRO has taken a leading role in addressing mental health challenges within football. This effort began in 2013 with a pioneering pilot project aimed at assisting member unions in creating and implementing strategies to protect players’ mental well-being. Since then, numerous additional studies and initiatives have been launched, further strengthening the support network for athletes.

“Players are screened pre-season for musculoskeletal injuries, for their level of endurance, strength and speed, for cardiovascular abnormalities, and the same should apply for mental health,” said FIFPRO’s Chief Medical Officer Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge via FIFPRO’s website.

“In Australia, for instance, thanks to the work done jointly by FIFPRO and Professional Footballers Australia, mental health screening in pre-season is now embedded in the minimum medical requirements. It’s a big step forward.”

The findings in women’s football align with those observed in other sports but are less prevalent compared to aesthetic or weight-class sports like gymnastics, judo, wrestling, or boxing. Despite this, the results still raise significant concerns regarding player welfare, emphasising the need for continued attention to the well-being of athletes across all disciplines.

The initial findings of the project, derived from studies on male professional footballers, revealed a low prevalence of knee and hip osteoarthritis (the degeneration of joint cartilage). The research also indicated that pain is a reliable symptom for suggesting the presence of osteoarthritis. Additionally, the likelihood of developing knee osteoarthritis was found to increase by 1.5 times with each injury and by just over four times following surgeries. These insights underscore the significant impact of injuries and surgical procedures on the long-term joint health of football players.

Although the 10-year Drake Football Study focuses primarily on joint pain in the ankles, hips, and knees of players and its potential long-term effects on their well-being, it also seeks to investigate mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, which are commonly reported by athletes. Additional data from the study is expected to be published in the coming months.

The Drake Football Study is initially funded by The Drake Foundation and receives support from Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Mehiläinen in Finland, and Push Sports in the Netherlands.

EURO 2024 Success: Lessons for Australia for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup

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Image credit: Euro 2024 Instagram

A comprehensive study by Nielsen Sports, the world leader in sports data measurement and fan insights, revealed that UEFA EURO 2024 will have an economic impact of €7.44 billion ($12.27 billion AUD) for Germany and the ten host cities.

Over 90% of this amount stems from spending by the 2.7 million ticket holders (with 44% coming from abroad), organisers, and accredited personnel, along with the indirect and induced economic effects.

The largest expenditures included accommodation, travel to and within the host cities, and food and beverages both inside and outside the stadiums.

The study also highlighted that nearly two-thirds of ticket holders used public transport within the host cities.

Furthermore, the event generated a total of €571 million ($941 million AUD) in advertising value for both the host cities and the country, due to their global media presence and visibility.

The conclusions of the study demonstrate the tournament’s positive impact in several areas:

  • The 51 matches were attended by 2.7 million spectators. 1.7 million were unique ticket holders, who attended at least one match.
  • 22% of the Ticket Holders were female, with the average age of all ticket holders being around 43 years old.
  • On average, 23% of ticket holders came from the host cities, 33% from the rest of Germany and 44% from abroad.
  • 97% of international ticket holders said they wanted to visit Germany again. On average, 79% of ticket holders said they would recommend visiting the city that had hosted their match.
  • 78% of all ticket holders rated UEFA EURO 2024 as positive, implying positive associations with the host cities and host country by extension.
  • 85% of host city residents stated that hosting UEFA EURO 2024 gave them a sense of pride
  • 73% said that EURO 2024 had made a positive contribution to the common good and cohesion in the host city.
  • More than a quarter of residents said that they had been inspired by EURO 2024 and played more than two hours more sport than before.
  • Ticket holders stayed for almost two days on average, with 87% staying for up to three nights.

The full report can be found here.

Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association (DFB), said:

“The study provides impressive evidence that UEFA EURO 2024 has had a wide range of positive effects across the ten venues and the country as a whole,” Neuendorf said in a statement.

“Not only did it provide us with great matches and a fantastic atmosphere in the stadiums; it was also an economic and social success.

“Thirty-six years after EURO 1988 and 34 years after peaceful reunification, Germany has proven to be a football-loving country, a friendly host and a reliable partner for the organisation of major sporting events.”

How can Australia benefit?

In 2026, Australia will host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with the host cities confirmed to be Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Similarly, the results of the Germany EURO 2024 success compare closely to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in terms of social impact and its effect on participation and attendance rates in women’s football.

Record numbers of viewers and grassroots sign ups suggest that this even and the one upcoming in 2026 stretch far beyond the Matildas’ results on the pitch.

However, it’s worth noting that the Asian Cup in 2026 produces a fantastic opportunity for iconic silverware and to continue the momentum set by the previous World Cup, with women’s football setting the foundations nicely to leapfrog into the mainstream.

The event is forecast to also attract thousands of out-of-state visitors, generating millions in visitor spend, while also delivering a cumulative broadcast audience of over 100 million across the event.

Conclusion

EURO 2024 proved to be a resounding success, offering a refreshing return to a popular footballing nation after the controversies surrounding the previous tournaments in Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018.

The Nielsen Sport report highlighted the significant benefits Germany reaped as hosts, both economically and in terms of global visibility.

Looking ahead, the upcoming 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is poised to further elevate women’s football, shining a spotlight on the sport while generating substantial revenue and exposure through tourism.

FIFPRO report shows rising concern over safety in men’s football

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Image credit: Vinicius Jr Instagram

In nearly every profession, workplace safety is a basic right, supported by regulatory and legal frameworks designed to protect employees from accidents and injuries on the job.

However, for footballers, these basic rights are frequently disregarded, as players face abuse, violence, and threats globally.

A football player’s workplace extends beyond the pitch, where visible acts of violence can also occur, to other areas such as the stadium, changing rooms, bus rides to matches, training grounds, and even their family homes.

A FIFPRO report from November underscores the extent and consequences of fan violence and abuse towards professional male footballers, while proposing measures to enhance workplace safety and safeguard player well-being.

The report titled ‘FIFPRO Men’s Football Workplace Safety Report: The Impact of Violence Towards Footballers in Their Workplace,’ is based on player interviews, a survey of 41 national player unions, and media analyses. The report is supported by an academic research paper authored by Dr. Joel Rookwood, Director of the Sport & Exercise Management degree at University College Dublin.

Although 85 percent of player unions believe that the relationship between fans and players is generally very positive and valuable, 76 percent expressed concern over the growing issue of workplace safety for professional footballers, and 66 percent noted that certain aspects of fan culture have become increasingly violent and abusive in recent years.

The survey results are backed by a Council of Europe committee report, published in November under the Saint-Denis Convention, which states that the number of arrests at sports events, especially in top-tier football leagues, is significant and increasingly problematic.

Particular concerns include the use of flares or projectiles, but violence also extends to players being attacked by pitch invaders or targeted from the stands with verbal abuse, which can be discriminatory or directed at their families. Many instances of abuse remain hidden and unreported, as threats and aggression become increasingly normalised.

Abuse and violence have concerning effects: 88 percent of unions reported that the threat of violence negatively impacts player performance, while 83 percent noted its contribution to mental health issues.

Unions support greater use of technology to identify and deter offenders: 98 percent believe that devices like security scanners and facial recognition would enhance player safety; 88 percent think clubs should do more to ban violent fans, and most agree that additional efforts are needed to engage with fans about how abuse and violence affect player well-being.

One anonymous men’s footballer in the report mentioned the media is complicit because they constantly criticise players, which sets a negative example for others.

Some notable cases include Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr facing repeated racial abuse on the field, including during a game against Valencia last year in May. Several fans directed racist gestures at the Brazilian player, resulting in Valencia’s stadium being closed for three matches and a €27,000 fine.

The report also mentions an insight into women’s football, while it becomes more professionally globally and fan rivalries intensify, concerns about workplace safety and security are becoming increasingly relevant.

Initial survey results reveal that 34% of unions have observed an increase in workplace violence in women’s football, highlighting the rise of match day safety concerns in the women’s game.

Players, unions, clubs, and legislators have suggested a range of solutions to address violence against players, including enhanced awareness of occupational health and safety in professional football and its application to players, enhanced in-stadium policing, stewarding, and surveillance and Collaboration among key stakeholders.

The report has been created by FIFPRO Player IQ, a player-centric knowledge centre designed to influence decision-making in the football industry to safeguard and enhance the careers and working conditions of professional footballers.

To read the full FIFPRO report, click here.

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