Taylor defends PFA handling of player dementia

Gordon Taylor, the Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive, has defended the union’s handling of dementia in the sport.

Chris Sutton, the former Blackburn and Chelsea striker, this week told a parliamentary hearing Taylor had “blood on his hands” for ignoring the issue. Sutton’s father Mike, also a former footballer, died last year after being diagnosed with dementia.

However, Taylor, who leaves his position at the end of the season, said support was offered to Sutton and he was invited to the PFA to see its work on concussion.

“During four decades at the PFA, we have always looked to help not only our current members but our approximately 50,000 former members when they have requested our support,” Taylor said in a statement to the PA news agency.

“Such support was offered to Chris Sutton for his father, together with an invitation to our offices to see the work done, the lobbying done, the research done, the support available, the changes to regulations and medical rules in dealing with concussion and possible consequences of repetitive heading.

“The invitation was never taken up but nevertheless I believe we have done more than any other players’ union, sporting union or trade union on this issue when this is also a worldwide problem for governments and all populations, health services and neurologists alike.”

Sutton had criticised the lack of movement on the issue. “We don’t need to keep having meetings about meetings about this,” he said.

“Hundreds, if not thousands of players have died from dementia and if we don’t get on top of this now, hundreds or thousands more will die. The FA and the PFA haven’t done anywhere near enough.”