A proposal for a “flexible league” that avoids players and the audience “hot waves”

The President of the Emirates Sports Medicine Association, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rahoumi, launched a new proposal to establish a local league “flexible appointments” in its new version for the 2025-2026 season, which begins on August 16, taking into account climatic conditions, and gives flexibility in the timing of matches, in order to avoid hot waves that may pose a threat to the safety of players and fans alike.

Al -Rahoumi said in statements to «Emirates Today»: “What I propose is not a permanent amendment to the league calendar, but rather a flexible and temporary experience in the summer months, which allows for the evaluation of the effectiveness of these preventive measures. Meteorologists can determine the time periods in which temperatures decrease, and accordingly it can delay the start of the matches, to achieve a safer and healthy environment.

He added: «This invitation does not aim to complicate the matches schedule, but rather to give it the necessary flexibility to protect everyone, and we do not demand a comprehensive change, but rather to provide space to make smart decisions based on the actual weather data, and if the experience succeeds, it will become a fixed element in the future organizing strategies of all local and continental championships as well as international.

He continued: «We live in an area that witnesses high temperatures, especially during the months of August and September, which may constitute a real threat to the health of players, technical and fans, so I see the need to think about a more flexible periodic model, in terms of the timing of the start of the matches, gives the Competitions Committee the ability to adjust the appointments for an hour or two according to the actual climatic conditions.

Al -Rahoumi emphasized that the practice of sports activity in harsh climatic conditions may lead to serious physical injuries that affect the career of the players and clubs, and he said: “Playing at the heat of heat may lead to muscle injuries, heat stress, or even sunstroke, and these are all risks that threaten players, as they constitute material losses for clubs that are forced to treat their players, and lack their services for long periods, which also affect their sports results.”

He added: «The player is the club’s capital, and its protection must be a priority, just as it is with the technical and administrative staff, and even the fans.

Al -Rahoumi pointed out that this model – if it was adopted and successfully applied in the Emirates – may constitute a reference for the rest of the Gulf and Asia countries, and said: “The Emirati experience in dealing with climatic challenges may inspire other unions that suffer the same conditions, and this will contribute to the development of a joint regional model, which balances the requirements of sports competition and ensuring a safe and healthy environment.”

The President of the Emirates Sports Medicine Association linked his proposal to the modern trends in managing the major championships, citing what happened in the last club World Cup in the United States, where the heat waves caused a review of safety protocols by the International Football Association (FIFA).

And he explained: «(FIFA) is aware that dealing with heat is no longer an option, so there are proposals that will be applied in the 2026 World Cup, including increasing the rest period between the two halves to 20 minutes, and playing every 15 minutes to drink water, in addition to preventing matches in the daytime periods, and relying on night timing.

Al -Rahoumi affirmed the full association’s readiness to cooperate with all relevant authorities, to ensure the application of best medical practices, and said: “The doors of the Emirates Sports Medicine Association are open to all, specifically the Professional and Local Clubs Association, to coordinate in any step that will enhance the safety of players and technical and administrative bodies, we believe that the medical partnership with sports authorities is a necessity, not luxury.”

He also praised the continuous cooperation with the Emirates Football Association, describing it as “model”, especially during the Emirates Sports Medicine Conference.

He said: «We witnessed in the last conference a wonderful model of partnership between the association and the union, as the Federation was an active partner in the workshops that dealt with the latest developments in the fields of sports medicine, rehabilitation, nutrition, and prevention.

. FIFA suggested that the rest between the two halves increase to 20 minutes.

. The World Cup in America causes safety protocols.