Dementia study is behind action
The decision follows the release of a report last October, which discovered former professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of a degenerative brain disease.
A spokesperson for the Scottish FA said:“Since the publication of Football’s Influence on Lifelong Health and Dementia Risk study into the link between football and dementia towards the end of last year, the Scottish FA has worked closely with the authors of the research and wider football stakeholders to look at practical steps the national sport in this country can take to minimise risk in the area of head trauma.
“Given the study was undertaken using medical records from Scottish footballers, there is an additional onus on the national governing body in this country to take a responsible yet proportionate approach to the findings.
“The presidential team of Rod Petrie and Mike Mulraney , along with chief executive Ian Maxwell, were keen that all possible options were open to discussion but that any final recommendations would be taken with the guidance of the medical experts.
“To that end, productive discussions have taken place within the auspices of the Scottish FA’s Professional and Non-Professional Game Boards, as well as main board, on proactive, preventative measures with particular focus on younger age groups.
“It is our intention to finalise those proposals with the relevant stakeholders in early course and further details will be announced thereafter.”