The family of Nobby Stiles, the 1966 World Cup winner with England who died of dementia in 2020, announced this Friday that they intend to file a lawsuit against the FA, which they accuse of failing to adequately protect players from head injuries.
A law firm representing several families, including that of Nobby Stiles, is accusing the FA and other bodies of failing to take action to limit heading in training and during matches. He also believes that the protocol for evaluating possible concussions during games “not suitable for the intended purpose”.
Stiles died at the age of 78 in October 2020 after experts diagnosed him with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease caused by blows to the head. Since Dad died I have been part of a campaign to expose the dementia scandal in football in all its aspects.explained his son, John Stiles.
Bobby Charlton too
“This appeal is part of this global campaign to bring justice to victims like Dad and to bring about fundamental change in this sport that continues to cause death and illness to thousands of players (amateur and professional, male and female) every year.”
Three other members of the 1966 World Cup winning team that beat Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley – Jack Charlton, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson – have died in recent years from dementia.
Bobby Charlton, Jack’s brother and Stiles’ Manchester United team-mate, also has dementia, according to a diagnosis revealed last year.
Actions in rugby
Legal action against rugby’s governing bodies has already been brought by former players such as Steve Thompson, the 2003 world champion, who succumbed to early-onset dementia aged just 44.
A study published last month by neuropathologist from Glasgow, Willie Stewart, estimates that high-level players have a significantly increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease or motor neurological diseases.
In 2020, the English (FA), Scottish and Irish Football Associations announced a ban on conducting matches during children’s training, before the under-12 category, and to regulate it until the under-18s.