Brain injury epidemic coming due to headers, warns Nobby Stiles' son
Following the death of Nobby Stiles, his family is warning of a potential brain injury epidemic among football players due to repetitive heading. Experts have linked Stiles' CTE to his career, prompting calls for better funding and safety measures in the sport.
Why it matters
Highlights the long-term health risks associated with contact sports and the ongoing debate over player safety and institutional responsibility.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Paul Burnell , North West and Mairead Smyth , North West PA Media The family of Norbert "Nobby" Stiles started noticing he was forgetting things in his late 50s and early 60s The son of England's 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles is predicting an "epidemic" of brain injuries among players who head footballs, especially women.
John Stiles spoke after an inquest on Wednesday into the death of his father, Nobby Stiles - the 78-year-old ex-Man Utd and England midfielder - heard thousands of headers during his career had caused his chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Senior Coroner Alison Mulch is writing a prevention of future deaths report after recording Stiles' cause of death in 2020 as Alzheimer's disease, contributed to by CTE.
The Football Association (FA), which has been asked to comment, is phasing out all football heading up to under-11s this year.
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