Professional football unions provide career support tools to players

The Sindicato de Futbolistas Profesionales (Sifup) has introduced new digital tools and support programs to assist professional footballers in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. During visits to the Deportes La Serena and Provincial Ovalle squads, the union presented updates to its mobile application and detailed various services designed to support players both during and after their athletic careers.

These services include mental health support, legal advice, injury recovery assistance, and guidance on entrepreneurship and education. Sifup President Luis Marín emphasized that the union's mission extends beyond defending labor rights to include personal, family, and professional development, specifically helping players prepare for life after retirement.

In a separate regional initiative, the Fundación Jóvenes y Deporte in Extremadura, Spain, reported providing support to 295 athletes through its Office of Attention to Athletes. The program offers specialized tutoring to help high-performance athletes balance training with academic and professional pursuits. Recent data shows that 32% of interventions focused on educational guidance, while 11% addressed employment needs.