LET’S ACT NOW
Rodgers adds voice to calls for research on dementia
BRENDAN RODGERS last night joined campaigners in calling for detailed research into any possible link between football and dementia.
The Celtic boss is supporting the family of Billy McNeill after they revealed the 76-year-old Lisbon Lions captain was diagnosed with the condition seven years ago.
And he backed a demand by McNeill’s wife Liz for proper research into the effects of heading footballs and the potential concussive effects on the brain.
‘I’d 100 per cent like to see that happen,’ said Rodgers. ‘It would be very much worth seeing what the findings are.’
Citing research into similar issues in America, he added: ‘I watched a film called
Concussion about the correlation between suicide rates among former NFL players and the amount of head contact they had as players.
‘The investigation showed that, in playing American football from six years old until the end of their careers, these players
had 70,000 contacts with their heads. The film also looked into the trend of NFL players committing suicide and whether it was to do with the effect on the brain. That all came from an investigation led by an incredible Nigerian doctor. That was a real eye-opener for me.’ Campaigners have been trying for years to establish a link between heading a football and damage to the brain. In 1999, ex-Celtic striker Billy McPhail launched a legal bid to prove he had suffered presenile dementia as a result of heading heavy footballs. The case was thrown out by an industrial tribunal before he died aged 75 in 2003. But three years later, a coroner ruled that former England star Jeff Astle had died from dementia aged 59 brought on by repeated heading. Rodgers would welcome further research. ‘You can’t ignore that,’ he said. ‘We’ve seen the balls in the museums with the big laces on them and you had to head that. It would be worth getting the findings. If the McNeill family is open to that, I think that’s a good step.’ Celtic are holding a charity match in May to mark the 50th anniversary of McNeill leading Celtic to European glory. A proportion of the money raised will go towards supporting dementia sufferers. Alzheimer Scotland announced yesterday they intend to hold a ‘football and dementia summit’ with key researchers and representatives from Scottish football. ‘We have been acutely aware of the increasing number of ex-football players receiving a diagnosis of dementia,’ said chief executive Henry Simmons. ‘There is now a clear need to work together to establish a joint understanding and consensus on the strength of the current evidence base, the implications and potential scale of the problem for retired, current and future footballers.’