Football families call for action on headers

Campaigners have called on the government to take urgent action to make clear the health risks associated with heading footballs.

Charity Head Safe Football, set up by Dr Judith Gates after the death of her husband, former Middlesbrough player Bill, has launched a national petition to declare heading the ball a public health issue.

Researchers have found footballers are three and a half times more likely to die from a neurodegenerative disease than the general population.

The charity is not calling for a complete ban but wants heading reduced in training. Gates said: "For too long we've responded with shock, sadness and sympathy - now is the time for action."

She said in recent years there had been many devastating stories of former players affected by dementia and other brain diseases.

Gates, who lives in Castle Eden, County Durham, set up Head Safe Football after her husband died aged 79 as a result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated impacts on the head.

She wants the petition to be debated in Parliament and work carried out to embed brain health education within teacher training and PE.

Gates said: "This is a today problem - the new balls move so quickly it affects everyone who plays the sport, from grassroots to professionals."

Some campaigners have called for warnings to be printed on footballs, like cigarette packets, saying heading is dangerous.

Former Middlesbrough and Manchester United defender Gary Pallister experienced sickening migraines during his career.

He believes there needs to be more support from the football authorities for former players.

"When football is awash with money, it can't be right that some players are selling their homes and medals to pay for their medical care," he said.

The Football Association said it continued to play "a leading role in reviewing and improving safety in the game".

It has banned headers for under-11s, is funding research and has issued guidelines on heading.

The Professional Footballers' Association along with the Premier League has set up a £1m brain health fund to help families.

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