R.I.P. Antonio Puerta

**Yasamuu**

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...ope/6964586.stm

The Spanish wing back, 22 years of age, of Sevilla FC passed away today in hospital after suffering a heart attack during their 4-1 victory over Getafe on Saturday. He had previously collapsed, twice, but both incidents were quite far apart and during pre-season friendlies in which the heat was thought to be the issue. His death follows the death of Queens Park Rangers youngster Ray Jones in a car crash last Friday and is just the latest in a line of players who have collapsed and later died during a match, Marc Vivien Foe is but one of the many others.

Is it time clubs took a real in-depth look at heart conditions? Presumably medicals are incredibly tough and up to scratch everywhere, Puerta had only just passed a medical for his club three weeks ago, but is there more they can be doing to prevent such a loss to a player with their whole career ahead of them?

**TonyJaa**

RIP.......The match between Sevilla FC and AEK FC was cancelled also.

**SolidRevolver**

That QPR player was only 19 years old too

RIP

Yeamaguea

Sad, was one of our strongest promise´s, he had all his career to cross.

Hard blow for Seville, although I believe that it continues being right now the best team of Europe.

**SolidRevolver**

A Liecster player collapsed at half time during their match at Notts Forest, he left the ground concious though and the match was abandoned.

**Raijinn**

I read about this over here and I am saddened by this. Perhaps they need to put remote heart, breathing, and temp monitors on athletes under any competition or practice. There's still talk about an offensive lineman in American Football named Korey Stringer who passed away from strenuous conditions. Steve Bechler, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles also passed away from over-exerting while taking ephedra.

Something as simple as a couple of probe monitors could help save some lives and protect the club's investment in a player and the player's investment in their life. It's just a thought of course but it's much better to play it safe.

It's a sad time in sports none the less.

Cystil-MxO

I actually read a very good article about that idea Raijinn, some teams are already using the treatment in the form of pills which can be digested and internally measure your heart-rate, cholesterol and blood sugar, etc. It's very top-range equipment, and it costs something like 45 pounds (around 70 bucks) for each pill -- Liverpool FC are using them currently.

**Raijinn**

BlueCode wrote:

I actually read a very good article about that idea Raijinn, some teams are already using the treatment in the form of pills which can be digested and internally measure your heart-rate, cholesterol and blood sugar, etc. It's very top-range equipment, and it costs something like 45 pounds (around 70 bucks) for each pill -- Liverpool FC are using them currently.

Very cool! If you find an article about that I wouldn't mind reading it!

Cystil-MxO

You ask politely sir, and thou shalt recieve Raijinnson!. Here is the technology behind the pills.

**Yasamuu**

I really hope clubs take a long look at this kind of thing.

News filters through about a Leicester player collapsing at half time tonight, and the match being postponed. He seems to be ok, certainly not as serious a situation as Puerta.

**GypsyJuggler**

There's a saying: "If you don't pass out at the end, you could've gone faster." Well done that man.

**Neoteny**

Well, I wish his familiy all of the best, and hope that he rests well. It's always sad when something like this happens... Hopefully they'll see the promise in technology like you guys are saying, and things like this may become preventable in the future.

**SolidRevolver**

Yasamuu1 wrote:

I really hope clubs take a long look at this kind of thing.
News filters through about a Leicester player collapsing at half time tonight, and the match being postponed. He seems to be ok, certainly not as serious a situation as Puerta.

That Leicester player that collapsed was a Sunderland player on loan to Leicester, I didn't realise. His heart did stop but he was revived with a 'defribulator' he is ok now though but I bet he is being watched carefully after what happened to Puerta.

I am sure things will be looked at to prevent this in future.

PascaI

I think it's about time we took a look at just how much rest these guys actually get.

Let's take a look at the average top team footballer.

They play a full season, which is normally intense, trying to win the league 'n' all that.
You've got International football in there too.
2 more domestic cups (FA cup, Scottish Cup, League cup)
And if you're lucky, Champions league, Uefa Cup runs.
And after all that you've got the bloody world cup or the European finals. It never ends...

I think it's time to introduce something like a winter break.

Take a look at David Beackham. He plays the full 90 minuets for England, flew back to LA and plays the full 90 there too. I think that was in the space of two days? He flew the equivalent of 3 times around the world. Insane.

**Yasamuu**

Unfortunately, it seems lightening has struck twice this season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foo...ell/7164150.stm

Motherwell Captain Phil O'Donnell collapsed and died today, at the age of 35 just before being substituted(which was tactical, not due to any kind of inclination of a problem).