As a young footballer playing before the introduction of 7-a-side pitches and certainly before any guidelines about practising heading were implemented, like many before and no doubt afterwards, I used to pride myself on repeatedly heading high balls punted from the opposition goalkeeper and in training exercises. Multiple concussions followed from impact challenges when in my teens. One wonders as to the impact of such events.
Next week, a parliamentary Concussion in Sport Inquiry will commence, considering scientific evidence relating to links between sport and long-term brain injury. The inquiry will not consider material involved in ongoing legal proceedings, but will hear from players and governing bodies.
It will be interesting to follow the progress of the inquiry, alongside results from research being performed by governing bodies such as the Football Association, and ongoing legal proceedings. Of most importance will be how all involved within sport are required to adapt following any recommendations from the inquiry and the results of research and legal action.
We're seeing a number of cases involving brain injury in sport likely to reach the doors of our law courts and we will also look at the implications for sport in the longer term of any successful legal claim.
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