5 hours ago
The son of former Manchester United and England player Nobby Stiles has said he is "disgusted" that the Football Association has apparently rejected a link between heading the ball and brain injuries.
John Stiles, who set up Football Families for Justice, has been campaigning for the FA to provide financial support to families of players who suffered dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
The campaign group's legal team has now seen a leaked 41-page High Court claim defence by the FA, in which a series of controversial claims are said to have been made – including that it should not owe a general duty of care to footballers.
The FA has not confirmed or denied the contents of the defence, but said the link between "heading in football and long-term brain health remains the subject of ongoing scientific and medical research".
Stiles, who played for Manchester United between 1960 and 1971 and was part of England's World Cup-winning team in 1966, suffered from advanced dementia before his death in 2020 at 78.
He donated his brain to medical research into the potential link between heading and brain injuries.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93xpl8399do
John Stiles, who set up Football Families for Justice, has been campaigning for the FA to provide financial support to families of players who suffered dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
The campaign group's legal team has now seen a leaked 41-page High Court claim defence by the FA, in which a series of controversial claims are said to have been made – including that it should not owe a general duty of care to footballers.
The FA has not confirmed or denied the contents of the defence, but said the link between "heading in football and long-term brain health remains the subject of ongoing scientific and medical research".
Stiles, who played for Manchester United between 1960 and 1971 and was part of England's World Cup-winning team in 1966, suffered from advanced dementia before his death in 2020 at 78.
He donated his brain to medical research into the potential link between heading and brain injuries.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93xpl8399do