13 May 2026
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13 May 2026
13 May 2026, London – Haleon and UEFA Medical today announce a landmark, multi-year scientific partnership, that will see Haleon become UEFA Medical’s first-ever Health Partner. The two organisations will work together to drive clinically informed, evidence-based approaches to football-related pain management to help protect player health and support recovery across the world’s most played game.
Despite the central role of pain management in football medicine, there remains an unmet need for clearer, science-based guidance on managing sports-related pain and getting back to movement – particularly for active adults beyond elite sport. The challenge is widespread: 40% of active people are injured each year1, up to 41% of recreational athletes report pain 2 and one in five experience moderate to severe pain3. Strengthening the link between effective pain management and a supported return to movement presents a clear opportunity to help people stay active throughout all stages of life.
By combining Haleon’s global network of health professionals with UEFA Medical’s unique expertise in football medicine and injury prevention, this partnership aims to close this gap. Through a focus on scientific evidence generation and a shared exchange of information, Haleon and UEFA Medical will work together to strengthen the scientific understanding of pain management and recovery across football and other sports. This will be delivered through a series of initiatives, including expert‑reviewed educational tools such as webinars and digital learning modules, designed to embed trusted, topical-first approaches to pain management into everyday clinical practice across Europe.
Topical solutions already play a critical role in modern pain management, helping millions manage pain each year. A recent analysis co‑authored by UEFA Medical and Haleon1 found new evidence to support the use of topical NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) in providing early pain relief in sports injuries.
As the first body of evidence developed jointly by UEFA Medical and Haleon, this work helps lay a stronger scientific foundation for future guidance - translating shared expertise in football medicine and topical pain science into more consistent, evidence-led approaches to pain management in sport. Building on this, Haleon and UEFA Medical aim to help shape clearer, science‑led pain management approaches - supporting players and athletes to stay active and keep moving.
Anna Nightingale, Global Head of R&D OTC and Global Head of Regulatory, Haleon said: “Football inspires millions to stay active, but when pain strikes, many people are left unsure which solutions are best suited to help keep them moving. Through this partnership with UEFA Medical, we hope to deliver clear, credible approaches that support safe movement and recovery, helping people stay active and keep moving with confidence.”
Eran Gefen, VP and Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs, OTC, Haleon 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 - recommended by consumers and healthcare professionals alike – 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.”
Dr Zoran Bahtijarević, UEFA Chief of Medical and Anti-Doping said: “Collaborating with Haleon allows us to combine our deep expertise in football medicine with a partner who brings decades of leadership in pain relief. Together, we can generate the evidence and scientific understanding that will further support clinicians, teams and players across the game.”
Footnotes
[1] Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 2: 18(9);4857
[2] BMJ Open Sport Exer. Med 2026 Jan 3; 12(1)
[3] J Sci Med Sport. 2024 Apr
[4] Presented at ISOKinetic Conference in April 2026
Ends
| Haleon contact | UEFA Medical contact |
| Amy Lababidi - +44(0)7894 827 836 | UEFA Media and Public Relations - +41(0)848 04 2727 |
| Email: amy.f.lababidi@haleon.com | Email: media@uefa.ch |
About Haleon
Haleon (LSE/NYSE: HLN) is a consumer company that is solely focused on better everyday health. Our people, our brands, our research, our investment and our innovation are aimed at improving the everyday health of consumers. Our product portfolio spans six major categories - Oral Health, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS), Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health and Therapeutic Skin Health and Other. Our superior brands - such as Advil, Centrum, Otrivin, Panadol, parodontax, Polident, Sensodyne, Theraflu and Voltaren – are trusted by more than one billion consumers and are recommended by health professionals around the world.
About UEFA Medical
UEFA Medical is responsible for protecting the health and safety of everyone involved in European football, setting mandatory medical standards for all UEFA competitions and more than 2,500 professional matches played across Europe each season. Its activities include developing and enforcing medical regulations, supporting education and knowledge-sharing among member associations and clubs, organising medical events and funding research on key topics in football medicine. UEFA Medical also leads public awareness initiatives and works continuously to ensure football medicine keeps pace with scientific and medical developments.
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