Brain injury epidemic coming due to headers, warns Nobby Stiles' son
The son of Nobby Stiles, an England 1966 World Cup winner and Manchester United legend, has warned that football faces a "brain injury epidemic" due to heading, with women's football a "particular concern".
John Stiles spoke after an inquest into his father's death heard that thousands of headers during his playing career had caused chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Nobby Stiles died with severe dementia in 2020 at the age of 78. The Stockport Coroners' Court was told he had headed the ball approximately 140,000 times.
"I'm quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE," neuropathology expert Dr Daniel Du Plessis told the court.
Inquest Findings
Senior Coroner Alison Mulch recorded the cause of death as Alzheimer's disease contributed to by CTE, with additional factors including a related neurodegenerative condition and cerebrovascular disease. She is writing a prevention of future deaths report.
The inquest heard that Manchester United's Old Trafford used to have a ball hanging from the stands that players were encouraged to head, underscoring the extent of repetitive heading in training.
Women's Football 'A Particular Concern'
John Stiles, founder of campaign group Football Families for Justice, said women's football urgently needs addressing.
"Tragically the brain injuries epidemic will grow as so many more girls play football: women's brains are even more susceptible to damage from heading,"he warned.
He added:
"Anybody who heads the ball is very likely to get this disease and, for God's sake, we must do something about it now."
Six years ago, former England women's international Sue Lopez revealed she had dementia and cited heading as the likely cause.
Legacy of 1966 and Calls for Funding
Four other members of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team died with dementia-related illnesses: Sir Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton, Ray Wilson and Martin Peters.
The FA, which has been asked to comment, is phasing out heading in under-11s football this year. However, John Stiles insists that current funding from the Premier League and Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is not "adequate" and a "proper fund" is needed for ex-players requiring care.
A 2019 study co-funded by the FA and PFA found that footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than the general population.
This article is based on reporting by the BBC.
