New Delhi, India
Players should stop heading the ball during training sessions if research proves it leads to dementia when they age-old, several Premier League managers have touched upon the topic when it came to the fore after the demise of Englandâs Nobby Stiles.
Stiles and many of his 1966 World Cup-winning teammates had been diagnosed with dementia before their deaths. Whereas Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, 83, was recently diagnosed.
While Stilesâ family hoped it would lead the way to address dementia whereas Geoff Hurst, Englandâs hat-trick star from the 1966 final said that kids shouldnât be doing it at all as heading the ball often in practice was dangerous.
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âIf they find out through the research that heading the ball 10 times during training is going to cause you dementia, then letâs stop it,â West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic told reporters.
âFor me, the great thing is they are talking about it and recognising it.â
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said he is now looking at how his players train and favoured rules to stop heading in youth football before putting out guidelines for top-tier football.
âThe rules need to be stronger to make sure weâre not making younger children head it if they donât need to,â Lampard said.
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âWe have to start with youth football. When children are developing, we can control the levels of training. Anything we can do to make things safer, we should.â
Aston Villaâs Dean Smith, whose father was diagnosed with dementia before passing away due to COVID-19, echoed Bilicâs view about needing more research.
âDementia and Alzheimerâs is more prevalent throughout the world now, unfortunately, but I think if there is a correlation between heading a football and dementia then we need to do something,â Smith said.
âThe balls were heavier back then. We are all saddened about the former players who are suffering with dementia.â