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After Soccer Player’s Death, Questions About Qatar After Soccer Player’s Death, Questions About Qatar
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — It appears to arrive as unerring, as uncomfortable, as the summer heat.LONDON — It appears to arrive as unerring, as uncomfortable, as the summer heat.
A professional player dies within hours of his first game of a fresh season. All the condolences in the world go nowhere near explaining how and why the fittest of sportsmen should fall with such frequency.A professional player dies within hours of his first game of a fresh season. All the condolences in the world go nowhere near explaining how and why the fittest of sportsmen should fall with such frequency.
When Christian “Chucho” Benítez, the 27-year-old Ecuadorean forward, left the field after making his debut for the Qatari team El Jaish on Sunday, he seemed fit and well. He complained later of stomach pain, and was pronounced dead at a Qatar hospital on Monday.When Christian “Chucho” Benítez, the 27-year-old Ecuadorean forward, left the field after making his debut for the Qatari team El Jaish on Sunday, he seemed fit and well. He complained later of stomach pain, and was pronounced dead at a Qatar hospital on Monday.
A flurry of Twitter messages followed, from one posted by the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, to those written by Benítez’s best friends on the Ecuador national team.A flurry of Twitter messages followed, from one posted by the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, to those written by Benítez’s best friends on the Ecuador national team.
“Brother, why now?” wrote his Ecuador teammate Antonio Valencia, a winger for Manchester United.“Brother, why now?” wrote his Ecuador teammate Antonio Valencia, a winger for Manchester United.
“This pain hurts so much,” Valencia added in another Tweet in Spanish, “but brother we love you.”“This pain hurts so much,” Valencia added in another Tweet in Spanish, “but brother we love you.”
Valencia and Benítez were born in the same year and started at the same club in Ecuador, El Nacional. Both followed a dream of playing in England.Valencia and Benítez were born in the same year and started at the same club in Ecuador, El Nacional. Both followed a dream of playing in England.
In that sense, they were closer than brothers. Manageable injury prevented Valencia from being on United’s tour of Asia this month, but he began his comeback on Monday with a preseason game in Crewe, close to Manchester. Playing there was probably the only way that Valencia might find peace of mind or purpose in life.In that sense, they were closer than brothers. Manageable injury prevented Valencia from being on United’s tour of Asia this month, but he began his comeback on Monday with a preseason game in Crewe, close to Manchester. Playing there was probably the only way that Valencia might find peace of mind or purpose in life.
His limbs have been broken by kicks from opponents, but that is professional irritation compared with what happened to his pal. One moment they exchanged goodwill messages, the next his colleague had gone.His limbs have been broken by kicks from opponents, but that is professional irritation compared with what happened to his pal. One moment they exchanged goodwill messages, the next his colleague had gone.
Qatari news outlets were shambolic on Monday. One reported that Benítez had died in a car crash, another that he had had a heart attack after training.Qatari news outlets were shambolic on Monday. One reported that Benítez had died in a car crash, another that he had had a heart attack after training.
Confusion remains. El Jaish’s Web site said Benítez had not complained about any health problems after playing a full part in the club’s 2-0 victory over Qatar Sports Club in the Sheikh Jassem Cup.Confusion remains. El Jaish’s Web site said Benítez had not complained about any health problems after playing a full part in the club’s 2-0 victory over Qatar Sports Club in the Sheikh Jassem Cup.
But neither El Jaish nor the hospital where he died gave any official account of what ensued. The player’s father-in-law, Cléber Chalá, said from Ecuador that Benítez had had what was thought to be appendicitis, but that he had developed complications that led to respiratory arrest.But neither El Jaish nor the hospital where he died gave any official account of what ensued. The player’s father-in-law, Cléber Chalá, said from Ecuador that Benítez had had what was thought to be appendicitis, but that he had developed complications that led to respiratory arrest.
“They called me at 3 a.m. to tell me they had taken him to hospital due to stomach pains,” said Chalá, who, like Benítez’s father, was a former Ecuador national team player.“They called me at 3 a.m. to tell me they had taken him to hospital due to stomach pains,” said Chalá, who, like Benítez’s father, was a former Ecuador national team player.
“When he arrived,” Chalá continued, “he was not seen to quickly. By the time he was admitted, he was no longer responding.“When he arrived,” Chalá continued, “he was not seen to quickly. By the time he was admitted, he was no longer responding.
“This happened in Qatar,” he said, adding, “My daughter is alone there.”“This happened in Qatar,” he said, adding, “My daughter is alone there.”
Alone, and now a widowed mother of four children.Alone, and now a widowed mother of four children.
The fact that it happened in Qatar, where Benítez had moved on a $10 million transfer this month, will reverberate. Everybody knows that FIFA has granted the gas-rich state of Qatar the 2020 World Cup — and that Blatter has now said the 32-nation, 64-game tournament should be switched to winter. The fact that it happened in Qatar, where Benítez had moved on a $10 million transfer this month, will reverberate. Everybody knows that FIFA has granted the gas-rich state of Qatar the 2022 World Cup — and that Blatter has now said the 32-nation, 64-game tournament should be switched to winter.
The notion that stadiums can be air-conditioned for the games is simply that. But a World Cup brings fans by the hundreds of thousands, and average summer temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) in Qatar might be deadly outside the stadiums.The notion that stadiums can be air-conditioned for the games is simply that. But a World Cup brings fans by the hundreds of thousands, and average summer temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) in Qatar might be deadly outside the stadiums.
It is premature to conclude that heat played a part in whatever killed Benítez. He was born in the Andean city of Quito, but he played almost 200 games in Mexico, before and after his single season with Birmingham City.It is premature to conclude that heat played a part in whatever killed Benítez. He was born in the Andean city of Quito, but he played almost 200 games in Mexico, before and after his single season with Birmingham City.
Short and stocky, but fast and elusive, Benítez could strike with either foot or his head. A Birmingham contemporary, Lee Carsley, described Benítez as “a player of outstanding ability, very quick, a bit of a free spirit.”Short and stocky, but fast and elusive, Benítez could strike with either foot or his head. A Birmingham contemporary, Lee Carsley, described Benítez as “a player of outstanding ability, very quick, a bit of a free spirit.”
Carsley recalled the Ecudorean’s debut against Manchester United as a substitute in August 2009. “He burst on that scene,” Carsley said. “He took to Old Trafford like a big personality. He was very popular in the changing room, but didn’t really fulfill his potential at Birmingham.”Carsley recalled the Ecudorean’s debut against Manchester United as a substitute in August 2009. “He burst on that scene,” Carsley said. “He took to Old Trafford like a big personality. He was very popular in the changing room, but didn’t really fulfill his potential at Birmingham.”
One reason was the defensive style of play by the team’s coach. Another was the doubt that settled in when Benítez was found to have a knee problem during his initial medical examination on arriving in England. Because of that, his move was altered from a permanent deal to a season’s loan, after which he went back to the Mexican team Santos Laguna.One reason was the defensive style of play by the team’s coach. Another was the doubt that settled in when Benítez was found to have a knee problem during his initial medical examination on arriving in England. Because of that, his move was altered from a permanent deal to a season’s loan, after which he went back to the Mexican team Santos Laguna.
A knee, though, is not a heart or the lungs.A knee, though, is not a heart or the lungs.
What is unnerving, unacceptable and apparently unfathomable is the fact that these sudden deaths of players in their prime keep happening. In the past decade, there have been at least 20 professional players who have died in action, or shortly after it.What is unnerving, unacceptable and apparently unfathomable is the fact that these sudden deaths of players in their prime keep happening. In the past decade, there have been at least 20 professional players who have died in action, or shortly after it.
Marc-Vivien Foé, the Cameroonian, was 26 when he collapsed and died during the FIFA Confederations Cup in Lyon, France, in 2003. Antonio Puerta was 22 when he fell in a Spanish league match, Sevilla vs. Getafe, in 2007. Dani Jarque, his fellow Spaniard, died of heart failure in his hotel room in Italy in 2009.Marc-Vivien Foé, the Cameroonian, was 26 when he collapsed and died during the FIFA Confederations Cup in Lyon, France, in 2003. Antonio Puerta was 22 when he fell in a Spanish league match, Sevilla vs. Getafe, in 2007. Dani Jarque, his fellow Spaniard, died of heart failure in his hotel room in Italy in 2009.
Miklos Feher, a Hungarian international, died in 2004, while Max Ferreira and Serginho, two Brazilians, died in successive years, in 2003 and 2004.Miklos Feher, a Hungarian international, died in 2004, while Max Ferreira and Serginho, two Brazilians, died in successive years, in 2003 and 2004.
On and on this list goes. Africans, Asians, Europeans, North and South Americans, men from all climates, all backgrounds, aligned in their choice of career, and in their shockingly untimely demise.On and on this list goes. Africans, Asians, Europeans, North and South Americans, men from all climates, all backgrounds, aligned in their choice of career, and in their shockingly untimely demise.
Michel D’Hooghe, the Belgian physician who has long been FIFA’s chief medical adviser, began his own career as a young medic who had to revive a player on the field at Bruges over 40 years ago. That player, like most who have died suddenly in soccer and in other sports, was found during an autopsy to have had undiagnosed congenital heart defects.Michel D’Hooghe, the Belgian physician who has long been FIFA’s chief medical adviser, began his own career as a young medic who had to revive a player on the field at Bruges over 40 years ago. That player, like most who have died suddenly in soccer and in other sports, was found during an autopsy to have had undiagnosed congenital heart defects.
Clubs in the richer leagues — in England, Spain and Italy, for example — now have defibrillator, heart resuscitation machines, on hand in case of sudden collapse. And at Tottenham in London a year ago, that saved the life of a Bolton player, Fabrice Muamba.Clubs in the richer leagues — in England, Spain and Italy, for example — now have defibrillator, heart resuscitation machines, on hand in case of sudden collapse. And at Tottenham in London a year ago, that saved the life of a Bolton player, Fabrice Muamba.
Two things, however, stand out. The majority of the sudden deaths on soccer fields have come in high summer, when players are stepping up in preseason. And when the heat is unforgiving.Two things, however, stand out. The majority of the sudden deaths on soccer fields have come in high summer, when players are stepping up in preseason. And when the heat is unforgiving.
Qatar 2020 still needs justifying. Qatar 2022 still needs justifying.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: July 30, 2013

An earlier version of this article gave the wrong year for which the World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar. It is 2022, not 2020.