40,000 accidents per year: Why football in Switzerland is becoming safer anyway
Football is the most popular sport in Switzerland, but it also comes with risks. Every year, thousands of people are injured during training or matches. Current data from the accident insurance company Suva now shows an interesting picture: despite the high number of injuries, the sport is becoming safer overall.
According to the latest statistics, there are around 40,000 football accidents per year. This number has remained almost constant for years. At first, this does not sound like a success, but you have to look at it in relation: the number of active male and female footballers in clubs continues to rise.
Since the number of accidents remains the same while more people are playing, the individual risk for each person is decreasing. Experts explain this trend through better prevention measures. Many clubs today rely on targeted warm-up exercises and better training for coaches to minimize the risk of injury.
Although football remains a contact sport and accidents can never be completely avoided, the development is positive. Efforts to increase safety on the pitch are having an effect and ensuring that the sport remains attractive for the growing number of players.