Legally restrict heading a football in training, says MP

What the report says

A Labour MP has urged the UK government to create legal safeguards limiting repetitive heading in football training, as concern grows about links between repeated head impacts and brain disease. Grahame Morris, MP for Easington, tabled an Early Day Motion at Westminster calling for stronger protections for players’ brain health. The motion says the issue is a serious public health and welfare matter and seeks action to reduce how often players head the ball in practice.

BBC Sport reports that the motion supports a petition from the charity Head Safe Football and asks for measures including legal limits on heading in training, a cross-department task force, a national action plan and wider education in schools. It also wants chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, recognised as a public health concern. Morris said the goal is to raise awareness of evidence linking repeated head impacts to increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and to push for more active prevention and player protection.

The article notes that football already has some heading restrictions in England and Scotland. The Football Association has phased out deliberate heading for children aged 11 and under and advises limits in training, while Scotland has banned heading in training on the day before and after professional matches. Campaigners say voluntary guidance is not enough and want clearer rules.

The call comes amid wider debate over dementia in football, including support for a compensation scheme for former players and an ongoing brain health fund backed by the PFA and Premier League.