Ally McCoist shares worries over links between football and dementia
Rangers legend Ally McCoist has revealed that he has worries about dementia, following the news that Sir Bobby Charlton has been diagnosed with the disease.
Dementia has become an increasing concern among retired footballers given the dangers associated with heading the ball.
Charlton’s brother Jack died following a battle with dementia in July, while numerous other footballers have suffered with it late in life.
A University of Glasgow study from 2019 found that former professional footballers are three-and-a-half-times more likely to die from a neurodegenerative disease than the average.
Speaking this week following the news that Charlton had been diagnosed with dementia, McCoist said that his history heading the ball as a player does worry him.
“I understand that old age does not come without a cost and at the same time, my own memory does worry me,” he said, via the Daily Record.
“My short-term memory is really poor because I can be thinking about something, go somewhere else and actually forget what I’m doing. That worries me and I don’t know whether that is a factor of me just getting old or whatever, it may well be a combination of a couple of things.”
He added: “I automatically think that back in the day, it was the big heavy ball with the laces. That’s what I thought. Now we’re finding out that the pace of the ball is a big factor as well. Clearly a lot of my headers would’ve been coming off fast balls, rather than the old ball with the laces and it worries me.”
Action is needed
Given the stark results of the study that was conducted last year, there is certainly a need for the footballing authorities to take action and reduce the risks associated with heading the ball.
The Football Association did move last year to reduce heading in youth football following the findings, but are yet to take action in the senior game, despite studies showing that the weight of the modern balls has not made things safer.
In response to a tweet from Labour MP Chris Bryant that criticised the inaction of authorities over the continued dangers of heading the ball, lead author of the Glasgow study, Dr Willie Stewart said: “I stopped being amazed by continued repetition of ‘old heavy leather balls’ fallacy some time ago.”
Speaking to the Times, he added that modern balls could put players in even further danger, due to the fact that they travel through the air faster.
Given the number of former professionals that continue to be diagnosed with dementia, McCoist is right to highlight his own concerns. It now falls upon the authorities and the government to take action and protect players going forward.
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