PFA calls for urgent action in reducing heading in training

The Professional Footballers’ Association called on Friday night for heading in training to be reduced and monitored.

Last Tuesday, Sportsmail launched its seven-point campaign to immediately tackle the game’s dementia scandal.

One of our demands was for clubs to limit heading at all levels, with a maximum of 20 headers per training session and a minimum of 48 hours between sessions.

The PFA are calling for the heading of footballs in training to be reduced and monitored 

Chris Sutton, who has spearheaded Sportsmail’s campaign, has welcomed the developments

Now the PFA has called for urgent action on the matter. In a move welcomed by former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton, who is spearheading our campaign, the players’ union also called on the support of clubs, leagues and the FA ‘to create a co-ordinated strategy to measure, monitor and adapt training — identifying protections that can make a difference to the long-term health of players’.

‘This is really encouraging news,’ said Sutton, whose father Mike, a former player, is dying from dementia. ‘It’s a really positive sign. There are lots of issues and a long road ahead, but this is a start. We’re delighted.’

The PFA say the call was agreed at a meeting of their management committee.

They accepted a ‘game-wide’ strategy is needed after the FIELD study — carried out by Dr Willie Stewart, who was also influential in the drafting of the Sportsmail charter — found footballers had three-and-a-half times the death rate from neurodegenerative conditions as the general population.

PFA chairman Ben Purkiss said: ‘Science has been developing quickly in this area and we need to make an urgent intervention based on the evidence that is available now. A reduction of heading in training is a practical and straightforward step.’

PFA Chairman Ben Purkiss said that ‘an urgent intervention’ was necessary in the game

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor added: ‘The PFA and PFA Charity will continue our commitment, alongside the FA, to fund research in this area. However, in the short-term football cannot carry on as it is.’

On Wednesday, the PFA announced they would be setting up an advisory group to review and develop the way they respond to dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

They have approached Sutton to become a member of the group, along with Dawn Astle, daughter of England and West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff, who died from the illness. Dawn also supports our campaign.