UEFA names Haleon first UEFA Medical Health Partner

UEFA has appointed Haleon as UEFA Medical’s first Health Partner under a multi-year scientific partnership aimed at improving how football-related pain is assessed and managed.The agreement links UEFA Medical’s work in football medicine and injury prevention with Haleon’s pain science expertise and its relationships with healthcare professionals.UEFA said the partnership will focus on developing and sharing clinically informed guidance to support medical teams, clinicians and players, with an emphasis on approaches that can translate beyond elite sport.UEFA chief of medical and anti-doping Dr Zoran Bahtijarević said: “This partnership with Haleon reflects our shared interest in advancing the scientific understanding of pain management in football.“By working together on research and knowledge exchange, we have the opportunity to further develop evidence-based guidance that supports clinicians and medical teams in their day-to-day practice. Strengthening the quality and clarity of scientific evidence remains central to UEFA Medical’s mission, and this collaboration provides a valuable framework to continue that work.”A practical output will be education, with expert-reviewed initiatives including webinars and digital learning modules intended to embed evidence-led pain management into everyday clinical practice across Europe.UEFA and Haleon said the content will include a particular focus on topical-first approaches informed by scientific evidence and relevant to football injuries.Eran Gefen, Haleon vice president and head of medical and scientific affairs for OTC, said: “Haleon’s role in this collaboration is to bring medical expertise that strengthens the scientific guidance available to healthcare professionals managing pain in active individuals.“By combining Haleon’s trusted pain-relief expertise and portfolio of pain-relief and sensorial relief brands with UEFA’s specialist knowledge, we can provide clearer, evidence-informed advice that supports self-care, a safe return to movement and helps people choose pain solutions that are right for their needs.”UEFA said the organisations have already collaborated on scientific research supporting the use of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for early pain relief in sports injuries, which it described as the first body of evidence developed through the partnership.From a sports business perspective, the deal formalises a new category around UEFA Medical, shifting from general sponsorship to a science-led collaboration that can support standards, education and consistency across clubs, competitions and domestic systems.The partnership also strengthens Haleon’s positioning in sports medicine through association with UEFA’s medical governance, where mandatory standards and knowledge-sharing shape practice across thousands of professional matches each season.