Briggsbear
Well-Known Member
Children could be banned from heading the ball in Scotland because of links between football and dementia.
Later this month, the Scottish FA is expected to announce a ban on under-12s heading the ball in training.
The United States have put a similar ban in place since 2015 but the SFA would become the first European country to impose such a restriction.
The decision follows the release of a report by the University of Glasgow last October, which discovered former professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of a degenerative brain disease.
Former Arsenal and Celtic striker John Hartson praised the Scottish FA for their stance on the subject.
He told the BBC: “Heading was a massive part of my game. Managers bought me because I could head the ball.
“There have been some serious situations where players have lost their lives and ex-legends suffering from dementia, so I’m glad the SFA are leading the rest of football and doing something about it.”
Later this month, the Scottish FA is expected to announce a ban on under-12s heading the ball in training.
The United States have put a similar ban in place since 2015 but the SFA would become the first European country to impose such a restriction.
The decision follows the release of a report by the University of Glasgow last October, which discovered former professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of a degenerative brain disease.
Former Arsenal and Celtic striker John Hartson praised the Scottish FA for their stance on the subject.
He told the BBC: “Heading was a massive part of my game. Managers bought me because I could head the ball.
“There have been some serious situations where players have lost their lives and ex-legends suffering from dementia, so I’m glad the SFA are leading the rest of football and doing something about it.”