LONDON, December 21 – A doctor looking into possible links between football and depression has said England’s World Cup midfielder Nobby Stiles, who died at the age of 78 in October, has suffered severe brain damage from relapse.
Stiles, who played for the team that won the World Cup in 1966, was diagnosed with depression, as were several of his teammates, including Jack and Bobby Charlton.
Stiles’ family said they took his brain to a study led by neuropathologist Willie Stewart.
“He told us that the damage to my father’s brain was very serious and could only be explained by directing the ball over the stable period of his career,” Stiles’ son John told the Daily Mail. .
“It simply came to our notice then. ”
Stuart said “brain injuries and head injuries” were the only known risk factors in the type of damage Stiles suffered.
“With Nobby, there is no recorded history of suffering a brain injury or concussion,” he told the newspaper. “We therefore suggest that the risk came from managing the ball.
“While he could have headed the ball several times in a game, like many others he would have been impacted countless in training sessions. All effects could be detrimental. ”
The Professional Footballers ‘Association (PFA) has called on English football clubs, leagues and governing bodies to develop a strategy to monitor training and change, as well as to create ways to protect players’ long-term health. .
They have also stated that they have set up an advisory group to engage with mainstream players and the families of former players to “help shape their responses to dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases”.
There have been growing calls for more attention to the issue of head injuries in sport.
A group of former rugby players suffering from concussion-related health problems have said their cases were caused by neglect through head injuries.
Former Australian rules player Shaun Smith received an A $ 1.4 million (RM4.3 million) insurance payment for brain damage he suffered after holding back decisions during his playing career. – Reuters