UEFA has signed a multi-year agreement with global healthcare company Haleon, making the firm the first official partner of UEFA Medical.
Under the partnership, the two organizations will collaborate to strengthen scientific standards and guidance around pain management and sports injury treatment. The agreement will bring together UEFA Medical and Haleon’s research capabilities to support healthcare professionals working with athletes and active individuals.
The collaboration will also include educational initiatives such as webinars, digital learning modules and scientific content aimed at advancing medical knowledge in sports healthcare.
UEFA Medical and Haleon have already worked together on research examining the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of sports injuries. The new partnership is expected to expand the scope of that work in the coming years.
Eran Gefen, vice president at Haleon, said the company’s role in the collaboration would be to provide medical expertise that strengthens the scientific guidance available to healthcare professionals managing pain in active individuals.
Meanwhile, Zoran Bahtijarević, UEFA’s chief of medical and anti-doping, said maintaining the quality and clarity of scientific evidence remains central to UEFA Medical’s mission, adding that the partnership offers an important framework to continue that work.
The announcement comes as UEFA continues to expand its commercial portfolio. Earlier this year, the governing body confirmed it had entered exclusive negotiations with Nike over a potential agreement to become the official ball supplier of the UEFA Champions League, replacing long-time partner Adidas.