South Korean professional football players have called for stronger safety rules after a new survey showed that extreme heat has caused serious health problems on the pitch. The Korea Pro-Footballers Association, or KPFA, said many players have faced dehydration, dizziness and short periods of loss of consciousness during matches and practice.
The survey came after a summer in which pitch temperatures rose above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The findings have raised fresh questions about whether current football rules do enough to protect players from dangerous heat. The KPFA now wants the Korea Football Association, K League and WK League to adopt strict heat rules.
Survey Shows Serious Health Problems
The survey covered 536 professional players from the K League and WK League. A total of 86.2% of those who took part said they had faced major physical strain when they had to play in extreme heat.
The numbers for specific symptoms were also serious. About 64.7% of players said they had felt dizzy during matches or practice. Another 56.6% said they had suffered severe dehydration. Most concerning of all, 13% said they had faced short periods of loss of consciousness.
These figures show that heat is not just a matter of comfort for football players. It can affect their health, focus and ability to stay safe on the field. The survey has therefore created a strong case for new rules across South Korean football.
More Than 70 Players Faced Severe Symptoms
KPFA President Lee Keun-ho said the results should serve as a clear warning. The former South Korean national team player said more than 70 players had faced dizziness, dehydration or even a short loss of consciousness.
Such cases are especially serious because football demands constant physical effort. Players must run, change direction, defend, attack and make quick choices for a long period. Extreme heat can make each of these tasks harder.
A player who feels dizzy or weak may also have trouble with balance and focus. That can create another danger when two players compete for the ball at high speed. The issue is therefore about more than match quality. It is also about basic player safety.
Players Want Stronger Heat Rules
The players’ union has asked the KFA, K League and WK League to create mandatory rules for extreme heat. The group says the current system does not offer enough protection.
At present, a heat break usually lasts a little more than three minutes once the temperature reaches a set level. Almost half of the survey group said they were unhappy with this system.
A break of only a few minutes may not offer enough time for a player to cool down, drink water and recover from severe heat stress. The union believes the rules need to give greater priority to health instead of a fixed match schedule.
The KPFA has also asked football authorities to consider changes to match times and other parts of the football calendar.
Most Players Want Match Changes
The survey showed strong support for wider changes. Nearly 90% of the players said they wanted changes to match rules or operations when heat levels become extreme.
More than half of those surveyed supported later kick-off times. This could help players avoid the hottest part of the day, especially in the summer months.
Some players also supported match delays or cancellations when official heat warnings are in place. Such a step could help reduce the risk of serious illness when conditions become unsafe.
The idea is simple: if the weather creates a clear health risk, football authorities should have the power to change the schedule. The union says the sport should not follow a fixed timetable when player safety is at risk.
Women Players Face Extra Problems
The issue may be even harder for women footballers. The KPFA said women players can face extra problems because some matches take place at the hottest part of the day.
Some games also take place on artificial turf. Such surfaces can hold and send back a large amount of heat. This can make conditions on the field much worse than the air temperature alone suggests.
The union also said some venues do not have good air-conditioned changing rooms. That can make it harder for players to recover before and after a match.
Ji So-yun, president of the KPFA Women’s Division, said athletes should not have to face such severe heat as part of a normal match schedule. She also said football should give player health and safety more value.
Why Extreme Heat Is a Major Risk
Football already puts a heavy load on the body. Extreme heat adds another layer of stress. The body must work harder to control its temperature while the player also has to maintain physical effort.
Dehydration can make the problem worse. A lack of enough fluid can lead to weakness, dizziness and a drop in physical ability. In severe cases, a person can faint or lose consciousness.
For professional athletes, the risk can rise fast because they may continue to push their bodies even after early signs of heat trouble. That is why clear rules can matter. Players may feel pressure to stay on the field, while coaches may want key players to remain in the match.
A strong safety system can give medical staff and officials more power to stop or delay play when conditions become dangerous.
South Korea Faces a Wider Heat Issue
The football debate also comes at a time when extreme heat has become a major concern in South Korea. Very high summer temperatures can affect outdoor work, sport and daily life.
For football, the problem is especially clear because matches often take place in open stadiums. Players may have little shade once they enter the field, and artificial turf can add more heat.
The survey has therefore raised a wider question about how South Korean football should deal with summer conditions. The KPFA said the results should lead to a wider review of the football calendar.
Some players support a change to an autumn-spring season. Such a system could reduce the number of major matches in the hottest part of the year.
Football Calendar May Need a Change
A change to the football calendar would be a major step. It would affect clubs, players, broadcasters, fans and stadiums. Yet the latest survey suggests that the issue may deserve serious debate.
Professional baseball in South Korea already has a system that can allow games to face cancellation because of severe heat. The KPFA says football should also have a system that gives officials more freedom to protect players.
That does not mean every hot day should lead to a match delay. Instead, authorities could use clear temperature and heat-risk levels. Once conditions pass a safe limit, officials could delay the start, add longer breaks or postpone the game.
Such rules could give clubs a clear process and reduce the chance of last-minute decisions.
Player Health Comes First
The survey from 536 professional players has put heat safety at the centre of a major debate in South Korean football. The figures are hard to ignore: 86.2% reported major physical strain, 64.7% reported dizziness, 56.6% reported severe dehydration and 13% reported a short loss of consciousness.
These numbers show why the KPFA wants stronger action from football authorities. Players need safe conditions so they can perform at their best without an avoidable health risk.
The next step will depend on the KFA, K League and WK League. They will need to decide whether current heat breaks are enough or whether the sport needs new rules for match times, delays and cancellations.
For the players, the message is clear. Football should remain competitive and exciting, but player health must come first when extreme heat creates a serious danger.
Also Read – WNBL Plans Big Rule Changes to Make Basketball More Exciting
