New rules on the pitch

The lack of immediate medical treatment for players who suffered head clashes at this year’s FIFA World Cup has sparked a lawsuit, brought about by a group of players and parents in the US. The group are asking for the rules of football to be changed to allow better prevention and management of head injuries and concussion. It is thought that three bouts of concussion could cause permanent brain damage and heading the ball repeatedly may reduce cognitive function.

The Premier League has introduced new rules on how to deal with head injuries, starting in the 2014-15 season. The policy states that a player suffering a head injury must now leave the pitch and the club doctor must decide whether the player is able to continue, not the team management. If there is a confirmed or a suspected loss of consciousness, the player will not be allowed to return to play. Home teams must also have a third “tunnel” doctor to support the doctor of each side. Furthermore, a campaign is to be launched to make players and managers aware of the dangers of head injuries and players must undergo baseline neurological assessments as part of their annual medical check-up.

England players help to promote the FA head injury campaign

However, this does not fully the tackle the risks associated with head-to-ball contact. In 2002, Jeff Astle, the former West Bromwich Albion player and England striker, died at age 59 due to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This degenerative brain condition is usually associated with boxers, but in this case, it is thought that it was caused by heading footballs. After a long-running campaign, Astle’s family met with FA chairman Greg Dyke in August and the Football Association has agreed to research into head injuries in the sport. Although footballs are much lighter than those used in the 1960s when Astle was playing, footballs can travel up to around 60mph in a professional match. Therefore, these blows to the head can still have a serious impact on the brain, even though they are not severe enough to cause concussion. Not only is it thought to cause cognitive impairment; it is also likely to have an effect on memory. Studies have shown that those heading the ball more often performed worse on memory tasks and tests of their attention span. Furthermore, those who were frequent “headers” showed obvious signs of mild traumatic brain injury on scans.

Some researchers argue that head trauma is usually due to the head clashes when players are going to head to ball, rather than the contact with the ball. Nevertheless, these studies show that head injuries in football can have very serious consequences. The research the FA has agreed to is likely to reveal more information into the dangers of heading the ball. However, long-term studies are needed to assess the lasting effects. It has been suggested that young footballers should be limited on how often they can head the ball. Will there be a time in the future where there are restrictions on the number of times professional players are allowed to head the ball?