Skip to main content

Less Header in Football for Health Cause, Is it Possible?



The recommendation to lessen the number of heading in football games to reduce the risk of dementia appears to be easier said than done.

Concerns about the impact of headers in football have grown since the departure of former England internationals from the 1966 World Cup squad, Nobby Stiles, in 2020. He was diagnosed with dementia, which was linked to the repeated headings. Stiles' teammates in the Three Lions squad, including Martin Peters, Ray Wilson, the former Republic of Ireland manager, Jack Charlton, and his younger brother, Bobby Charlton, who died in October 2023, reportedly shared the same neurodegenerative condition.

The Potential Risk

Such tendency has been supported by the date from further study and research. During an interview with Sky Sports, Dr. Willie Stewart, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and the study's lead expert, expressed his concern. He claimed that footballers were 3.5 times more likely than the general population to die from brain disease, and that replacing the modern ball with a faster-moving one, as compared to the ball in 1976, could arguably make it worse.

The data appears to corroborate the findings of a 2019 PFA (Professional Football Association) charity-funded study on FIELD (Football's Influence on Lifelong Health and Dementia risk), which found that footballers had a 3.5 times higher death rate from neurodegenerative conditions than the general population.

As a result, the less heading in football has been proposed. Dr. Stewart believed that an immediate change was required at all levels, including modifying training by reducing any unnecessary heading, reducing all of it in youth football, and conducting additional research into any head injuries in the professional game.  Based on the evidence available, PFA chairman Ben Purkiss has urged the football authorities to intervene.

Possible or Not?

The question of whether it is possible to reduce the heading in the match, whether for scoring goals, providing assists, or clearing, remains unanswered. It is unclear when any football governing bodies will impose a new regulation for it. Surprisingly, there has already been interesting development at the top level.

The average number of headers per game in the major European leagues is higher in the English Premier League and German Bundesliga than in the Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1 and Spanish La Liga. However, the numbers appear to be decreasing in all of the top flights except La Liga.

This shift may be related to the tactical trend in Spain's top flight, where more teams are using longer passes and relying more on physical duels rather than technical skills and creativity. These are diametrically opposed to the nature of Latin football.

The success of Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone in the past decade by winning two league titles (2014 and 2021) , two UEFA Champions League runners-up (2014 and 2016) as well as two Europa League and UEFA Super Cup trophies (2012 and 2018) might be inspiring more teams to follow their footsteps. Their playing style and even formations have grown in popularity, particularly among mid and lower table teams lacking marquee signings. Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Villarreal and Getafe are some of the examples.  

In summary, there may have been some awareness in modern football regarding the brain injury issue as a long term impact on headings, at least at the European major leagues, which could lead to a gradual adjustment. Nevertheless, an official game rule to reduce header is still necessary for the sake of the players' health. After all, with less heading on the pitch, players and teams will be forced to be more creative and improve their technical abilities rather than emphasising physical duels.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Football Films based on true Football Stories

  Football films based on true events are not as common as we might hope, but the few that exist certainly stand out as some of the best. Unlike American football or basketball films, football (or soccer, as it's called in the U.S.) hasn't gained the same level of popularity or production in Hollywood. That’s understandable, given the sport’s limited appeal in the U.S. historically. However, with the country set to co-host the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup next year, more football films should be produced to build the hype and capture the spirit of the world’s biggest sporting event. Football movies have the unique ability to explore stories on and off the pitch — from a fan's perspective to tales centred around players, managers, or even lesser-known supporting characters. The following list focuses solely on those based on true events, highlighting the personal conflicts, dressing room dynamics, and emotional journeys that define real football legends. As we enjoy...

The Distinguished Final Specialists at the top level throughout history

  A number of legendary names have become final specialists at the top level throughout history, with very few players able to match such a record, even today. The 2025  FIFA CWC might have been over, but the final in East Rutherford left a remarkable note beyond just Chelsea’s stunning win over the UCL champions, PSG. The emergence of Cole Palmer as a new star for England might have been anticipated, yet his constant contribution in finals seems too obvious to deny. The former Manchester City man has become the new final specialist among football’s elite. His record of contributing in finals—either through goals or assists—continues to grow, and Palmer could potentially reach new heights to cement his status as the greatest final specialist in history. The Blues star’s contribution rate in finals is already at 75%, even higher than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and, most recently, Kylian Mbappe. Cole Palmer already made his mark during his time at the Etihad, scoring...

The Most Daring Journeyman Managers in History

  Not many gaffers opt to roam around the world to become journeyman managers in their careers and gain fair success.  Being a football manager, just like any other profession, needs a challenge to push the limit in their career, be it for the silverware, more noble missions like developing football in the remote countries, or simply for an adventure. It is quite rare to find one recently and thrive, especially at the top level.  One of the few such figures is probably Jorge Jesus. The Portuguese boss has currently signed for the post in Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. It would be a challenge as well as an honour for him to lead Cristiano Ronaldo, something that he never had during his stints in Europe. Jesus mainly spent his career in his home soil and Turkey before venturing to South America and winning the prestigious title, Copa Libertadores 2019, with Flamengo. He is one of the few European gaffers who managed to do so. However, his experience in three contine...