Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) accredited two Japan's joint forces as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence―Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Medical Center, organised by Japan Sport Council, and Juntendo University Hospital (collaboration of the two facilities) and Kobe University Hospital, Hyogo Prefectural Rehabilitation Central Hospital and Meiwa Hospital (collaboration of the three facilities). Their inauguration ceremonies took place at Japan Institute of Sports Sciences in Tokyo on Tuesday 27 January and at Kobe University Hospital Sysmex Hall in Hyogo on Thursday 29 January.

FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence aims to protect footballers’ health, focusing on their injury prevention. FIFA accredits its qualification through screening process upon application from medical treatment facilities that hold the following functions.

・To cultivate the relationship between players and the organisations by assisting footballers’ health wellbeing and researches and studies of FIFA and F-MARC (FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre).
・To provide professional players regardless of ages and gender with medical knowledge and services regarding surgical and non-surgical football medicine.
・To cooperate on research and development of F-MARC within their framework and strategy.
・To educate and nurture next-generation medical experts and scientists in football medicine. 

In 2007, Japan-based St. Marianna University of Medicine Hospital was accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence for the first time in Asia. The joint unit of Japan Institute of Sports Sciences Medical Center and Juntendo University Hospital was inaugurated for the second and another joint unit of Kobe University Hospital, Hyogo Prefectural Rehabilitation Central Hospital and Meiwa Hospital became the third institution in Japan to receive the recognition.

While FIFA Chief Medical Officer Jiri Dvorak presented a certificate to the medical organisations in the ceremony, Japan National Women’s U-19 Team head coach Takakura Asako and JFA General Secretary Hara Hiromi gave a congratulatory speech in Tokyo and in Kobe respectively.

Comments

JIRI Dvorak, FIFA Chief Medical Officer
Players who play at the top level are very few, and 99 per cent of three hundred million footballers around the world are amateurs. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence aims to offer treatments for not only elite athletes but also all the footballers. The medical facilities accredited today have had successful involvement in research on player treatment, rehabilitation and injury prevention. We hope they serve a role as Japan’s FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence.

KAWAHARA Takashi, Director General of Japan Institute of Sports Sciences
Since our centre opened in 2001, we had various involvements in Japanese football such as medical science supports for top football players and international referees. It is very honour we were accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence for those achievements. Because development of football medicine seems to accelerate around the world, we will further enhance supports that we offered in the past and coordinate with Juntendo University Hospital. By doing that, we hopefully contribute to the world of football and sports.

DAIDA Hiroyuki, Director of Juntendo University Hospital
We set up “Sportology Medical Centre” to provide medical science support to athletes at all levels through various services such as “athlete outpatient,” “women’s athlete outpatient” and “sports orthopaedic outpatient.” Upon this accreditation, we will further offer the highest level of medical treatment, carry out athlete health enhancement and nurture medical staff.

FUJISAWA Masato, Director of Kobe University Hospital
We played a central role in medical supports and restoration efforts for the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which occurred in 1995. Vissel Kobe was born in the same year and it was a hope of Kobe citizens. We have sent out a team doctor to them. We are now accredited as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence. Keeping strong relationships with Hyogo Prefectural Rehabilitation Central Hospital and Meiwa Hospital, we will offer quality medical and rehabilitative services to many patients and football teams and contribute to studies for development of sports medical science.