Alex McLeish backs call for effects of heading a football to be industrial injury

Alex McLeish won multiple honours during a distinguished playing career, including the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup

Aberdeen and Scotland legend Alex McLeish has backed a campaign for heading a football to be classed as an industrial injury.

The former defender said ex-professionals should not be left to suffer in silence from brain illnesses.

If successful the move, led by Labour MSP Michael Marra, would result in ex-players receiving social security payments to help with living costs.

Ministers are planning a consultation on industrial injury-related benefits.

• Dementia death more likely in football

• Scottish football to ban heading the day before and after matches

In June, research commissioned by the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association found former players are almost three-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population.

The findings backed up previous research in 2019 by experts at Glasgow University, which investigated fears that heading the ball could be linked to brain injuries.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme, McLeish said: "Having seen Billy McNeill pass away, Gordon McQueen, guys like that, you know that it's a huge part of football.

"A few years ago Jeff Astle at West Brom started the ball rolling in England.

"So I guess it is industrial injury."

Bill McNeill, who captained Celtic to victory in the European Cup in 1967, died from dementia in 2019, aged 79

The former Rangers and Scotland manager also highlighted concerns raised about head injuries in rugby, notably by ex-England international and World Cup winner Steve Thompson.

He added: "It is kind of running in tandem now. I felt that this one, due to the industrial injury thing and losing good people, similar to the positions that I played in, I felt that it could be appropriate to help."

McLeish, who won 12 major honours with Aberdeen including the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup, is confident the campaign will be successful.

Asked if he was worried about being diagnosed with early onset dementia, McLeish said: "Who knows? I have an awful lot of information in my brain over the 64 years that I have been on planet Earth.

"I think I have to forgive myself if I forget one or two things but there is possibilities there.

"I did head the ball quite a lot."

In 2020, the Scottish Football Association announced a ban on under-12s heading the ball in training.

As a result of the Glasgow University study, professional footballers in Scotland were last year banned from heading the ball in training the day before and the day after a game.

Clubs were also told to limit exercises that involved repetitive heading to one session per week.

And in August the daughter of former Scotland football manager Ally MacLeod called for a complete ban on heading the ball over fears it leads to dementia.

A Scottish government spokesman said: "Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit continues to be delivered by the UK government who decide which conditions should be prescribed for the purposes of the benefit.

"We recognise that there are a range of views on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which is why we have committed to a consultation in the next few months on our approach to replacing the scheme in Scotland."