Football authorities must be held to account over its dementia crisis, Dawn Astle and John...

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A parliamentary investigation into sport’s dementia crisis has been urged to demand answers from the football authorities over accusations that the issue was “swept under the carpet” for decades. Dawn Astle and John Stiles, whose fathers both died with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a type of neurological disease associated with head trauma, welcomed the parliamentary intervention but told MPs that the inquiry must hold governing bodies to account. There is a fear that an inquiry by the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee could become an opportunity for administrators to generalise about potential future plans rather than explain why past warnings were not met with more concerted action. Telegraph Sport has previously revealed letters dating back more than 25 years from various medical experts, at least one to the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association, which suggested research into the risk of brain injury. It is also now approaching 20 years since Dawn’s father, Jeff Astle, died from what a coroner ruled was ‘industrial disease’ from repeated heading. Research was promised immediately after his inquest but the Astle family then had to wait until 2019 for the first comprehensive study into the prevalence of neuro-degenerative disease among former footballers. The neuropathologist, Dr Willie Stewart, found that former players were 3.5 times more likely to die of brain disease and, following post-mortems on Jeff Astle and Nobby Stiles, also diagnosed CTE consistent with decades of exposure to heading. Dawn Astle believes that the inquiry will only be credible or useful if there is a willingness to confront the past. "This issue has been swept under the carpet for far too long," she said. "Dr Stewart’s study wasn't done out of the goodness of the heart of the FA or the PFA, but because my family wouldn't let them sweep it under the carpet.” Astle does not find it credible that nobody in football could have suspected a serious problem and has a copy of the Football League Review, which was included within match programmes. Under the headline, 'Danger in Heading the Ball?' the article relays a doctor’s concerns about ‘punch-drunk’ footballers who have headed too many balls. That was dated 1966, the year England won the World Cup. Half of England’s 1966 outfield team have since been diagnosed with dementia and three of those players have died during the past 15 months. "It is time for the Government to get involved,” said Astle, who has recently begun assisting the PFA in their support of former players and their families. “This isn't a metatarsal injury or a broken leg, this is something that is killing former players at a hugely increased rate." An application has been made for dementia in football to be recognised as an industrial disease and John Stiles, Nobby’s son, wants a proper care structure to be established. “CTE can only be caused by trauma,” he said. “The only trauma dad had was heading the ball. Playing the game he loved killed him and he can’t be on his own. We believe it is widespread. I played in the 1980s and two of my colleagues have got neurodegenerative diseases already. “I'm delighted there is some sort of inquiry and I hope it is thorough. It needs to be addressed because football can’t be trusted to look after its own.” The first session of the DCMS inquiry will be held next Tuesday. It is understood that chief executive Mark Bullingham and head of medicine Charlotte Cowie will attend on behalf of the Football Association. It is unclear at present whether Gordon Taylor, who has been PFA chief executive sice 1981, will be asked to appear although it is understood that the committee has written to the PFA. Taylor has always rejected any accusation that the issue was "swept under the carpet” and previously told Telegraph Sport that the PFA have “done more than anyone”. He pointed to various studies that the PFA have part-funded, including the ongoing research by Dr Stewart at the University of Glasgow. The PFA have also supported the industrial injury application and is lobbying for heading limits in training. The FA has already drafted heading limits in children’s football and is working with the Premier League to produce similar guidance for the adult game. The FA said that they have “a clear and unwavering commitment, both financially and with resource, to support objective, robust and thorough research”.

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