The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Young Scottish players to be banned from heading footballs
HEALTH: Fears over brain dangers spark new plan to protect under-12s
The Scottish Football Association is poised to take drastic measures to protect the next generation of players by banning children under 12 from heading the ball in games.
The ban, which could be introduced by the new year, follows evidence that the traditional skill – used by great players including Manchester United and Dundee United legend Frank Kopel, as well as Old Firm greats Billy Mcneil and Jimmy Millar – was linked with dementia.
Frank, of Kirriemuir, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2008 and died in 2014 at his home aged 65.
Billy Mcneil died in April after struggling with the illness for nine years, and Jimmy Millar is battling Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia.
Frank’s campaigning widow Amanda, who successfully fought for new legislation which extends free personal care to under-65s, had said publicly she suspects her husband’s dementia was caused by years spent heading a hard, leather football.
She urged the authorities to “sit up and listen” after a new study revealed the link between football and dementia.
The study found former footballers are approximately three-and-ahalf times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than the general population.
Mrs Kopel said football cost her husband her life and heading a football should now be restricted in training and banned completely for those under a certain age.
The SFA will join the US Soccer Federation as the only organisation in the world to make the decision for all players under 12.
The move is part of radical proposals to safeguard players from developing dementia and other brain conditions, including motor neurone disease.
Talks were held with SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell last week following the publication of Glasgow University’s landmark study.