Widow of Frank Kopel, the former Manchester United, Dundee United and Blackburn Rovers defender, backs former Inverness Courier and STV man Mike Edwards OBE’s campaign to ban headers in football
The widow of a renowned Scottish footballer who died from dementia is renewing her backing for an Inverness man’s campaign to ban headers in the game.
Former Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Dundee United left back Frank Kopel tragically lost his life to the neurological disease aged just 65.
Amanda Kopel, who blames her husband’s death on damage caused by repeatedly heading the ball, is an ambassador for the football safety lobby group, Heading Out, set up by former Inverness Courier and STV reporter Mike Edwards OBE.
Mike, who grew up and worked in Inverness early in his career, retired from the media to care for his elderly mother Margaret through her dementia journey.
The campaign’s stated aim is to secure a ban on heading the ball by the final whistle of the final of World Cup 2030, hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
Speaking at a special event today, where she held for the first time the iconic plate which marked Frank's most famous footballing moment, Amanda made an emotional plea.
“Football fans will remember Frankie for his goal in this game against Anderlecht in 1979, but to me he was much more than that,” she said.
“He was a loving husband and a fantastic father.
“But he was killed by the game he loved. Heading the ball is so dangerous and has to be removed.
“Frank would have headed the ball thousands of times in training and had many concussions from collisions with other players' heads. FIFA has to change the rules and remove heading to protect players from dementia.
“This should have been our 55th Christmas and New Year together. Instead I've spent the last 10 Christmases missing him because he died playing the game he was passionate about and which should have been safe.”
Mike believes that FIFA is dragging its heels on addressing the issue.
“Recent Scottish research has shown that retired footballers are three and a half times more likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia and five times more likely if they were defenders,” he said.
“Studies also show they were fit and healthy people meaning their dementia could only be caused by repeated trauma to the head.
“It is long past time for FIFA to accept this and change the rules to protect the players for whom it has a duty of care.”
Frank Kopel’s 18-year career was full of distinguished moments, but he is perhaps best remembered for his goal for the Tangerines against Anderlecht in a UEFA Cup tie on
October 2nd 1979.
He was diagnosed with dementia in 2008 and died at home six years later.
Dundee United have arranged a ceremony for Amanda to see and hold for the first time the shield RSC Anderlecht presented to Dundee United at the 1979 game in Brussels.
It was recently rediscovered in the club's archives.
The event was held at the statue of Jim McLean outside Tannadice stadium at 3pm today (Sunday 29th), ahead of United’s home game against Aberdeen.
