AUCKLAND – An Auckland sports medicine practice has become one of just six medical centres worldwide to be officially accredited by FIFA.
Adidas Sports Medicine Centre has passed rigorous selection criteria to be awarded ‘FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence’ status by football’s world governing body.
The St Johns-based centre will provide medical support – including Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sports Physicians, Physiotherapists, Podiatry and Massage Therapists – to all football
teams throughout the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
It joins centres in Switzerland (Zurich), USA (Santa Monica), Japan (Kawasaki), South Africa (Johannesburg) and Germany (Munich) with FIFA’s official seal of approval.
All accredited institutions have been carefully selected based on a comprehensive application process to prove their clinical, educational and research expertise, their practical
involvement in the care of teams and their active commitment to preventing injuries.
Adidas Sports Medicine Centre has provided services to New Zealand Football teams for a number of years and continues to
generate research on football injuries and injury prevention.
Professor Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) will be the guest of honour at the Auckland centre’s
inauguration as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence on Wednesday.
Dr Tony Edwards, a sports physician and partner at adidas Sports Medicine Centre, says the clinic is thrilled to be recognised by the world’s biggest sporting body.
“We are delighted with FIFA’s decision; it’s a great honour for the centre and the culmination of many years hard work,” Dr Edwards said.
“At adidas Sports Medicine Centre we are constantly striving to provide top medical services to football throughout Oceania. We’ve had staff dedicated to New Zealand Football
squads for a number of years and we’re delighted we can now offer these services and provide invaluable research to the football family throughout the South Pacific.”
adidas Sports Medicine Centre was established in 1993 and is a key centre for the NZ Academy of Sport’s medical programme.
Widely regarded as New Zealand’s leading multidisciplinary sports medicine centre, adidas Sports Medicine Centre has supported numerous sports teams such as the All Blacks,
Auckland Blues (rugby), New Zealand Warriors (rugby league), New Zealand Hockey and Auckland Cricket.
It also acts as a teaching centre for under graduate and graduate sports medicine students at the University of Auckland and works in close co-operation with the Unisports Centre
for Sports Science and Auckland Cardiology.
Key partners at the centre are: Dr Tony Edwards (Sports Physician), Dr Graham Paterson (Sports Physician), Dr Chris Hanna (Sports Physician), Bruce Twaddle (Orthopaedic Surgeon),
Barry Tietjens (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Stewart Walsh (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Graeme White (Physiotherapist), Graeme White (Physiotherapist), Paul Wilson
(Physiotherapist).
For further information please contact:
Dr Tony Edwards
Tel: 09 521-9818
Mobile: or 021 51 3513
To arrange an interview please contact:
Kent Gray
PR & Communications Executive
New Zealand Football
+ 64 (0)21 523 611
Gordon Glen Watson
Media and Communications Officer
Oceania Football Confederation
+64 (0)21 994 520
+64 (0)9 526 5658