English football introduces new guidance for heading

We knew when Jeff Astle died nearly 20 years ago, the findings that were made post-mortem would raise serious and very grave concerns for the game of football and other contact/collision sports in general.

The news that the Footballing Authorities have limited heading to just 10 per week is extremely welcome, however we do remain worried that this is focussed on “high force” heading when the effects of repetitive low impact heading is equally concerning.  We are also concerned the responsibility for policing these guidelines is on the player.

Every single heading of a ball is significant.  Significant enough that even football itself has decided that professionals, amateurs and adolescents can only do 10 per week… 10.

We have known for a long time every hit to the head can harm.  There is a breaking of the structures in the brain and a build-up of toxins that can last a lifetime.  It did in the case of our Dad, many other Dads, many Husbands, Grandfathers, Brothers, Sons and Friends.

This is about acknowledgment of what happened to Jeff, so as to be able to make a difference for those unlike him, its not too late for, those already suffering as he did and those who are, or who maybe, a ticking time bomb for the future.

The Jeff Astle Foundation hopes these guidelines will start to protect the brain health of the footballers of today.  It will protect our youngsters playing football on a Saturday and Sunday, our amateurs, it will protect our female footballers and it will protect the professionals across all the football leagues.

Of course, this comes much too late for even players of the 80’s and 90’s and even players from more recent times.  The damage is already done, the exposure has already happened.

So, our next points are really important.

1. Football must put into place a Trust fund to look after the players who are suffering now with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by playing the game they loved.  This would cover rehabilitation costs, neurological support costs and most importantly full-time care costs for all those affected. 

2. The Health & Safety Executive must accept that Traumatic Brain Injuries (Concussions) in football be recorded as a RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013).

3. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council must accept that Dementia in Football is an Industrial Injury.

Football is a much-loved sport for millions of people around the world, us included.  But for Jeff and for other professionals, it was just their job and they should be afforded the same protections from known risks as anybody else in any other job.

The Jeff Astle Foundation will continue to lobby, we will continue to help those affected financially and practically and crucially be the voice for all those unable to speak for themselves. Until then, we will not give up and we will not be silenced.  

We all know the benefits of sports participation, but brain damage must never ever be seen as an acceptable consequence.