FA ‘knew of concussion risk in 80s but failed to act’

The Football Association (FA) was “fully aware” of the risk of concussion and brain injury to players as early as the 80s, but failed to improve safety, the High Court has been told.

Lawyers representing several former footballers and their families have said in court documents that minutes from an FA committee meeting in 1983 “indicate” that it knew of the risk posed by head injuries, “but failed to take action to reduce the risk of players to the lowest reasonable level”.

Ten former professional footballers – and the families of a further seven who have died – are suing the FA, the Football Association of Wales, the English Football League and the sport’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board.

They include the family of former England midfielder and

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1966 World Cup winner, Norbert “Nobby” Stiles (inset), who died in 2020 after living with dementia and was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive brain condition caused by repeated blows to the head. In the documents, barristers have claimed that the four governing bodies were “negligent and in breach of their duty of care” owed to the ex-players, who “suffered permanent long-term neurological injuries” as a result. Susan

A hearing in the case is expected later this year, with the court being told in January that up to 75 players could eventually be involved in the legal action.

Rodway KC, representing the former players, said: “At all material times the defendants knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the likelihood of brain injuries due to the cumulative effect of concussive and sub-concussive injuries to the brain.

“The fact of longterm neurological complications and conditions arising from concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head in a contact sport like football was well established at all material times, and the defendants ought to have known of the same.”

A FA spokesperson said: “We have already taken many proactive steps to review and address potential risk factors which may be associated with football whilst ongoing research continues in this area including liaising with the international governing bodies.”