Nandy to meet football families over brain diseases

Lisa Nandy is the Labour MP for Wigan

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy will meet with former footballers and their families on Tuesday to hear more about "the devastating impacts" that neurodegenerative diseases have had on them.

It comes amid a campaign by Football Families for Justice (FFJ) calling for more financial help from the sport's governing bodies for those affected by dementia and other brain conditions.

Last month former England internationals, including Sir Geoff Hurst and Kevin Keegan, met MPs in support of the group.

Led by John Stiles, the son of England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, FFJ wants football's new independent regulator to impose a statutory duty on the sport's authorities to develop a dementia strategy.

Former Manchester United midfielder Stiles, who died in 2020, had prostate cancer and advanced dementia.

His brain was diagnosed as having chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a form of degenerative disease dementia which is believed to be caused by repeated blows.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram have also backed calls for an amendment to the Football Governance Bill to establish a compensation scheme to help with care costs for former players with dementia.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: "The culture secretary Lisa Nandy and sports minister Stephanie Peacock will meet with ex-footballers and their loved ones to hear more about the devastating impacts that neurodegenerative diseases are having on their lives.

"Welfare at all levels of sport is of paramount importance and the meeting will be a valuable opportunity to understand views on potential future approaches, based on the first-hand experiences of professional players."

The Professional Footballers' Association, the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales, has a dedicated brain health team to support former members, and educate current players, concerned about brain health.

In September 2023, the PFA and the Premier League jointly launched the Football Brain Health Fund, making available an initial £1m to assist former players and their families who have been impacted by dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.

However the fund has been criticised as inadequate by campaigners.

Last year, the Football Association said it would introduce a new rule to phase out deliberate heading in grassroots youth matches across England.