EFL Play-Off Clubs to Wear Their Support for Heart Health on Their Sleeves

English soccer clubs participating in this year’s EFL Play-Offs will be wearing their hearts on their sleeves — literally — as they try to earn promotion.

The English Football League announced on Thursday, May 1, that clubs participating in play-off matches later this month will wearing specially designed heart-shaped commemorative badges on their sleeves supporting the British Heart Foundation.

The badge features a horizontal EFL Play-Offs logo overtop an angular white heart with a blue border. Inside that is another red heart with the message “EVERY MINUTE MATTERS” inside. The Every Minute Matters campaign is run by the BHF and is “designed to equip football fans with the confidence and skills to perform CPR.”

At the top of the outer heart are two other messages written in a smaller blue font: “LEARN CPR” and “HELP SAVE LIVES.”

“It’s a huge honour to represent your club in the Play-Offs and something I’ve been fortunate to do several times in my Sunderland career. This year will be extra special because we’ll not only be playing to win, but we’ll also be helping to raise awareness of the life-saving power of CPR.
“I’ve spoken to friends, family and Sunderland supporters about the Sky Bet Every Minute Matters campaign, and what’s clear is that too many people still don’t realise that anyone can learn CPR – you don’t need medical experience or any special skills. The reality is you can learn in just 15 minutes. So, my message to fans is simple – step up and learn CPR because it could make all the difference.”
— Sunderland AFC captain Luke O’Nien

According to the EFL’s press release, the Every Minute Matters campaign—which was launched just before the 2024 Play-Offs—has taught CPR skills to more than 290,000 people in just under a year.

But they also point out that there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the United Kingdom each year, or at least five every 90 minutes. Every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10%.

EFL Play-Offs sponsor Sky Bet has pledged to donate £10,000 to the BHF for every Play-Off goal scored.

The EFL Play-Off Finals are scheduled to take place at London’s Wembley Stadium from May 24 to 26.