Daughter of Ex-Leeds United star calls for a limit on heading in training
Former Leeds United and Scotland international Gordon McQueen suffers from dementia and his daughter has called for a change in the rules to prevent more players from suffering from the illness.
The 69-year-old is one of many former footballers who suffer from the illness that has been scientifically proven to be enhanced by the repeated heading of a football.
Hayley McQueen is a presenter for Sky Sports News and in an interview with the Express, expanded on why she wants action taken.
“This isn’t accidental, players are heading balls over and over again. We now know this causes brain damage,” the 42-year-old said.
“If you tell a footballer earning millions of pounds, that by your 50s or 60s you won’t be able to live your life and spend the money you’ve earned, they’ll cut down the number of times they head the ball or change the way they train.
“There needs to be a law that in training, you can only head the ball a certain number of times.”
Common Problems
Dementia has been the downfall of some of football’s greatest players. Most notably, Jack Charlton passed away from the illness in 2020.
Jack’s brother Sir Bobby Charlton and his former teammate Dennis Law have also been diagnosed with the condition.
McQueen, a First Division winner with Leeds in 1973-74, was diagnosed in January and his daughter Hayley became an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador.
She has been vocally passionate since her father’s diagnosis calling for change to the rules on heading in training and in youth football.
The Scottish FA has already taken action in banning heading in primary schools in an attempt to prevent as many cases in the future.
With defenders five times more likely to suffer than attackers, alternative options need to be found in order to protect the safety of footballers.
In other Leeds United news, Marcelo Bielsa will be without his star striker for another game after a late injury blow.