Football world voices support for McNeill after dementia is revealed
THE Scottish football world has voiced its support behind Celtic legend Billy McNeill after his wife revealed his continuing battle with dementia.
In a series of emotional interviews yesterday, Liz McNeill , 73, confirmed the footballer was diagnosed with the degenerative brain illness seven years ago and now struggles to speak and communicate effectively.
McNeill, 76, was the first Briton to lift the European Cup after he captained Celtic to a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon in 1967.
He also led the club to nine successive league titles and won seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups, before having two spells as manager.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell paid tribute to McNeill and his wife, who now cares for him in their home in Newton Mearns. He said: “He is a very special man and everyone at Celtic will continue to give Billy and his family every support.”
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan described McNeill’s wife as a “pillar of strength”.
He added: “We should cherish people like Billy. Any young professional can find no better example to emulate as a player and a person.”
Mrs McNeill revealed a reason behind making her husband’s dementia public was to highlight the need for more research in the link between headers in football and the effects on the brain.
One of McNeill ‘s strengths as a player was his heading ability, including scoring the winning goal in the 1965 Scottish Cup Final that began Celtic’s great run of success under manager jock stein.
Earlier this month a study from University College London found a possible link between heading balls and dementia, while Stirling University last year found “small but significant” impact on the brain of players who had headed footballs.
Mrs McNeill said: “I think it’s the right time for us to talk about this now. Heading the ball and the possibilities of concussive effects on the brain needs more discussion.
The SFA said it was working with partners at UK and world level to examine current scientific evidence around the issues raise through the specific aspect of heading.
In 1999, ex-Celtic player Billy McPhail lost his legal case for disability benefit over a claim that he developed the first stages of senile dementia as a result of heading leather footballs. He died in 2003.
An inquest into the death of former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle ruled he died aged 59 from a degenerative brain disease caused by heading the ball.