Soccer-Senegal team doctor 'trained as a gynaecologist', federation president says
The president of Senegal's football federation criticized the team doctor's qualifications during the World Cup, claiming he was a gynecologist rather than a sports medicine specialist. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine refuted these claims, asserting the doctor holds the necessary credentials and has served the team since 2017.
Why it matters
This highlights internal organizational conflict and the high-stakes pressure surrounding national sports teams during major international tournaments.
July 13 (Reuters) - Senegal's team doctor lacked the specialist background needed to support the squad during the World Cup in North America, the president of the country's football federation said on Monday, as the governing body took stock of a disappointing campaign.
The team doctor was “trained as a gynaecologist” and the issue was discovered late and had raised concern among players about the level of medical support available, federation chief Abdoulaye Fall told a press conference.
"Based on the feedback I received, the players were not sufficiently reassured about being supported by him,” Fall said.The federation sought additional medical expertise to reassure the squad, he added.
"We had to find convincing expertise so they could feel reassured, because health comes before everything," said Fall.
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