June 37 – The chickens are finally coming home to roost for football’s governing bodies. The High Court in London heard preliminary hearing Thursday that there is “no safe limit” for heading a football – a statement that will make many football bodies pay attention after years of denial as players have suffered irreversible brain damage.
Twenty-three former professionals, plus families of 10 deceased players, are taking the legal gloves off against the Football Association, English Football League, and FA of Wales. Their message is crystal clear: football’s authorities knew the risks as far back as the 1960s and did absolutely nothing to protect the players.
Susan Rodway KC, speaking for the claimants, delivered a knockout blow to the defense’s strategy: “We are saying there is no safe number of times a player can head the ball.” Think about that for a moment. No safe number. Not ten headers a day, not one header a week – none. The very foundation of our beautiful game has been slowly destroying the brains of those who play it.
The case includes the family of England legend Nobby Stiles, whose 1966 World Cup triumph was later overshadowed by dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A post mortem examination revealed the progressive brain condition caused by repeated blows to the head.
What’s particularly galling is the defense’s response. Michael Kent KC, representing the EFL, claims this is now a “completely different” case because they’re dealing with “invisible injury over a period” rather than obvious concussions.
The numbers keep growing – another 90 individuals have joined the legal action, with estimates reaching 150 claimants. That’s not a coincidence; that’s an epidemic.
The case has been dragging on for five years. Rodway’s frustration was palpable: “Enough is enough and we need to progress.”
But the FA’s Martin Porter KC seemed to suggest his clients aren’t stalling, claiming they’ve made “strenuous efforts” to understand the cases.
The science has been there for decades. The evidence has been mounting. The symptoms have been obvious. Yet football’s governing bodies have chosen ignorance over player welfare.
The beautiful game’s ugly truth is about to be laid bare, and it’s going to be devastating.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1751015276labto1751015276ofdlr1751015276owedi1751015276sni@o1751015276fni1751015276