BAN KIDS HEADING UNTIL 16
EXCLUSIVE NIGEL CLOUGH has waded into the war on dementia in football – calling for youngsters under the age of 16 to be banned from heading a ball.
Mansfield Town boss Clough – who won 14 England caps in his playing days – says more research needs to be done at junior levels before the practice is given the green light again.
Studies have shown that former players are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of degenerative brain diseases.
That led to the FA drawing up a code of practice last February with youngsters under the age of 12 now banned from heading during training.
Clough’s late father, Brian (below), famously quipped that “If God wanted to play football in the air, he’d have put grass up there”, and his son believes the current code needs to go further.
He said: “Three years ago, I was at a question-and-answer session at Repton School in Derbyshire when I was asked what rule I’d change.
“We’d just been relegated from the Championship at Burton – so I said I’d abandon that one – but then I added that heading a ball by under-16s should be outlawed.
“There were a few murmurs among the audience about the fact that it is part of the game – which I understand.
“But my point is that if you do the research until kids are 16, then you can discuss the situation. Until then, ban it.
“Honestly? I wouldn’t mess about with kids’ health.
“If my son was 12 or 13 and I didn’t know if heading the ball would damage his health or not, I wouldn’t want him heading it. Surely that’s just common sense?
“We are now seeing some magnificent players from the past who are being diagnosed, and who are suffering because of how they went on. We have to learn.”
Clough pointed out that steps have been taken in most contact sports where the head is exposed, to combat the potential pitfalls.
He added: “I don’t want to lose heading from the game. It’s such a huge part of it.
“And the fans want to see it. They want balls coming into the box.
“When a team wins a corner, there’s a cheer because there’s a raised expectation of a goal.
“And that’s all fine. But we have time to teach players heading after they reach the age of 16.
“Don’t take chances with this. Football can adapt.”