Colin Keevins, a seasoned journalist, recently shared a personal account of his emergency treatment in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), highlighting both the quality of care he received and reflecting on broader issues in professional sports governance.
On July 23, shortly after submitting his newspaper copy, Keevins suffered a severe medical incident at his home, necessitating an urgent call to emergency services. He was subsequently admitted to the resuscitation unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. The following day, doctors performed a procedure to address internal bleeding and a bacterial infection. During his stay, he required six blood transfusions and spent several days in a high dependency unit.
Keevins praised the hospital staff for their professionalism and empathy throughout his treatment. He singled out a young nurse, Mirren, who not only helped care for him but also supported his wife by arranging and paying for a taxi late at night and confirming her safe arrival home. He also mentioned Sean, a hospital auxiliary, who offered reassurance and optimism about the performance of football player Kasper Hogh, demonstrating a human touch beyond clinical duties.
Despite past controversies surrounding the QEUH, Keevins emphasized that his personal experience of both medical and emotional care was exemplary. He expressed sincere gratitude toward the hospital team, noting that the quality of NHS service was “above reproach.”
In addition to recounting his hospital experience, Keevins voiced sharp criticism of Gianni Infantino, the president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). He described Infantino as a figure who undermines the integrity of the sport while maintaining a polished public image. Keevins referenced incidents during the recent World Cup, including Infantino’s controversial gesture of awarding Donald Trump a peace prize and allegations that Infantino manipulated FIFA’s red card regulations under political pressure from the White House.
Keevins accused Infantino of attempting to commercialize the World Cup in a manner detrimental to the sport’s interests, labeling the effort a “cash grab” that ultimately failed. He concluded that Infantino’s resignation would be appropriate on principle, though expressed skepticism that such an outcome would occur.
The reflections offer insight into Keevins’s views on both the state of healthcare provision and leadership challenges in international football, juxtaposing his gratitude for personal care with his condemnation of perceived governance failures in sports administration.