Coroner Links Nobby Stiles' Death to 140,000 Football Headers
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
Coroner Links Nobby Stiles' Death to 140,000 Football Headers
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
Summary
Stockport Coroners' Court ruled that repeated heading contributed to Nobby Stiles' death, recording Alzheimer's disease with high-stage CTE and other neurodegenerative and vascular factors.
140,000 headers over Stiles' career were cited at the inquest, and neuropathologist Daniel Du Plessis said he was convinced that volume of heading caused the former England midfielder's CTE.
John Stiles told the court his father headed the ball about 40 times a day in training and that players at Old Trafford were encouraged to practice heading without knowing the long-term risks.
Stiles, who won the 1966 World Cup with England and played nearly 400 times for Manchester United, developed memory problems in his late 50s and died in 2020 aged 78.
The ruling adds weight to his family's campaign for football authorities to do more for former players who say repeated head impacts during their careers caused lasting brain damage.
A coroner linked football headers to dementia. With insurers now fleeing, who will pay for the sport's hidden neurological cost?
As a landmark inquest begins, are today's athletes being abandoned to face the long-term neurological risks of their sport alone?
Science proves heading a ball can lead to fatal brain disease. Why is this potentially lethal skill still taught to children?
The Cost of Heading: Nobby Stiles, CTE, and Football’s Legal and Policy Reckoning
Overview
Nobby Stiles, a legendary English footballer, died in 2020 after suffering severe dementia, which his family believes was caused by repeated head trauma from heading the ball during his career. This conviction led his son, John Stiles, to launch a campaign and head the Football Families for Justice group, calling for better support for former players with similar health issues. The Stiles family, along with other affected families, is now taking legal action against football authorities, alleging negligence and a failure to protect players from long-term brain injuries. Their efforts highlight the urgent need for change in football.