More support for campaign to ban headers from football by former Inverness Courier journalist
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The daughter of a former Scotland hero is backing the banning of heading in football.
The campaign, which is aimed at protecting the lives of future footballers, is being supported by former Scotland boss Ally Macleod’s daughter Gail Pirie.
She said: “We, as a family, have no doubt that dad’s Alzheimers was caused by repeated heading of the ball. It must be stopped to protect future players.”
Heading Out is the campaign formed by former journalist and dementia campaigner Mike Edwards, who gave up his career in front of the cameras to care for his elderly mother who was diagnosed with dementia.
Former Inverness Courier journalist Mr Edwards, who has plans to lobby football authorities, said: “Heading the ball is a slow, but steady, killer and has to be removed from the game.
“We learn from an early age not to handle the ball, so surely we can learn not to head it either.”
Echoing the recent findings by Scottish academics, Heading Out is helping to reveal the statistics that footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to receive diagnosis of a neuropathological disease – whilst if you are a defender (a position where heading a ball is more common) it is five times more likely.
Also placing their support behind the campaign is Amanda Kopel, widow of former Dundee United legend Frank, who believes leaders in the game aren’t delivering protection for the players.
She said: “The game has a duty of care to players. I wouldn’t wish what Frank went through on my worst enemy and the rules have to change.”
NHS consultant Michael Crawford – whose father played in the Scottish Junior leagues – said: “It’s beyond dispute now that heading the ball causes chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known as a brain injury, and it is causing problems for players in later life.”
Funding the Heading Out campaign are sales of Mike’s third book called You’re Seeing It!
He has already secured meetings with top officials in the game, including the medical director of UEFA – in which he will discuss the group’s aims and research surrounding the prohibition of heading.
