Football must pay for research
FOOTBALL and other sports have been told by the Government to “put their hands in their pockets” and fund more research into head injuries.
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston does not think governing bodies are doing enough.
Campaigner Dawn Astle – daughter of West Brom legend Jeff Astle, who died from a degenerative brain disease aged just 59
– has long claimed heading a football is linked to neurological disorders. Huddleston gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry into concussion in sport and said football had more than enough to fund their own research.
“I expect and require them to put their hands in their pockets and then share results,” he told the inquiry.
“If there are gaps then we’ll consider what the role of Government could be, but I don’t think we should need to because there’s enough money in sport. I would not want Government to do something that was purely tokenistic. I think we need to make sure that there’s serious long-term investment in this area from sport.”
The PFA said they were spending £616,000 investigating neurodegenerative conditions.The union also said they had given £1.82million to support ex-players diagnosed with brain injuries.
But Huddleston said: “I’m not happy with the status quo.”