The Football Association has introduced new rules to limit heading in football amid growing concern over the long-term impact on players’ brain health.
the decision follows emerging research suggesting that heading the ball creates a brief pulse of energy that passes into the brain at the moment of impact.
While each impact is small, experts warn that repeated exposure over time may contribute to neurological damage.
A major piece of research, the FIELD study, found that former professional footballers are around 3.5 times more likely to suffer from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.
In response, the Football Association has introduced a phased ban on heading for children under 11 and issued guidance to limit high-force headers in training, particularly those from corners and free-kicks