Ebola Fears Prompt Vigilance at Olympique Lyonnais
Amid rising concerns over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, Olympique Lyonnais (OL) took decisive steps to reassure players and staff, especially after the return of several African internationals from Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
👥 Players Monitored
Four OL players were subject to health checks upon their return:
Bakary Koné (Burkina Faso)
Clinton Njie (Cameroon)
Henri Bedimo (Cameroon)
Mohamed Yattara (Guinea)
According to club doctor Emmanuel Orhant, OL:
Provided each player with a thermometer to monitor their temperature daily (fever is an early sign of Ebola).
Found no cause for alarm, but maintained strict medical surveillance.
🗣 “Apparently, the four players concerned are out of the woods, but the club still wanted to reassure everyone,” said Orhant in Le Parisien.
🧑⚕️ Informal Briefing to Reassure the Squad
Some European players reportedly showed concern over the situation, prompting Dr. Orhant to organize an informal educational session before training.
“Many Europeans seemed to be wondering, so an informal meeting was organized before training. Thanks to that, there was no holding back in contact with the Africans upon their return.”
📩 FIFA Contacted Over CAN 2015 Safety
Jean-Michel Aulas and OL have officially contacted FIFA to inquire about health protocols for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2015, which was then scheduled to be held in Morocco.
🗣 “Football must not be the cause of the epidemic’s development. FIFA must ask itself questions,” warned Orhant.
🔍 Context
The Ebola epidemic was highly contagious and deadly, with major outbreaks in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Though the risk in football was considered minimal, the issue raised serious questions about:
International player travel
Public health policies in sports
The potential postponement or relocation of the 2015 AFCON (which was later moved from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea)
Olympique Lyonnais’ proactive stance reflected growing concern among European clubs about balancing sporting obligations with global health risks.
