WE MUST HONOUR LEGACY OF OUR NATIONAL HEROES
Fury as Scottish Government turns down ‘workplace injury’ protection plea of footballers hit by dementia from heading ball
five months to respond, writing: “The Scottish Government is committed to increasing our knowledge of the links between neurodegenerative disease and football.
“We are funding a new body, Brain Health Scotland, for five years to embed brain health within clinical services and across public health.
“As part of this, we are exploring links between pilot brain health clinics from next year and the feasibility of additional national work focussing specifically on brain injury.”
She wrote that “further work” was under way to establish why footballers “may” be at greater risk and added: “I recognise your request to establish a working group and we will respond directly as part of our on-going consideration of this issue.”
Marra, an MSP in the North East, blasted the “brush off ” response: He said: “The Minister has completely ignored calls to classify these injuries as an industrial disease.
“That designation is absolutely vital as it should entitle sufferers to the benefits payments they deserve.
“So many of our footballers suffering today played when there were no millionaire wages. Billy McNeill would have graced any pitch in any age. Jim McLean was a genius struck down far too early.
“Both made good livings from the game but nothing like the money seen today at the very top. Very many more did even less well and took next to no money from the game. Many families know real hardship.
“We have a generation of players who were injured at work and have a right to the support of the state.”
A 2019 study by Professor Willie Stewart showed former professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia. Glasgow
Uni research also found defenders are more likely to have dementia in later life compared with other positions on the park.
Marra, who is a SFA registered youth football coach, added: “The announcement from Scotland’s greatest goal scorer Dennis Law of his own diagnosis should be the moment for the Scottish Government to step up and lead.”
In an interview last week, an emotional Law said of the link between heading the ball and his dementia. He said: “What else would it be? That was what caused damage to the brain. You were heading the ball, which was quite heavy in those days, but you didn’t think about it. We just thought it was normal.”
GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour said: “It’s increasingly clear this is an industrial disease.”
Amanda Kopel, the widow of Dundee United hero Frank, who died from vascular dementia in 2014, said: “I’m flabbergasted by this. I would like to see the evidence that they are trying to go on.
“I’m quite angry with the Scottish Government. Footballers were doing a job for their employers and it cost them their lives. They didn’t know the dangers.”