EXTENDED PROJECT
SHOULD HEADING BE
BANNED IN FOOTBALL
TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF DEVELOPING
NEURODEGENERATIVE
DISEASES?
1
,Should heading be banned in football to reduce the risk of
developing neurodegenerative diseases?
Contents
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................3
WHY HEADING SHOULD BE BANNED IN FOOTBALL.......................................................4
Heading the ball and developing neurodegenerative diseases....................................................4
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy............................................................................................................ 4
Cognitive impairment................................................................................................................................... 4
Do the potential negatives associated with heading the ball outweigh the benefits?................6
Amateur Football.......................................................................................................................................... 6
Professional Football................................................................................................................................... 6
Are certain groups/sections of people more vulnerable from heading the ball?........................6
Youth Players................................................................................................................................................ 7
Female Players.............................................................................................................................................. 7
WHY HEADING SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN FOOTBALL....................................................8
Potential Impacts of banning heading in football..........................................................................8
The impact on gameplay.............................................................................................................................. 8
The risk of alternative injuries..................................................................................................................... 8
Do the rewards associated with heading in football outweigh the risks?...................................8
Professional Players..................................................................................................................................... 9
Amateur Players............................................................................................................................................ 9
Alternative strategies to reduce the impact of heading in football..............................................9
Implementing heading limits, appropriate rest, and recovery time..........................................................9
Restricting heading in training only............................................................................................................ 9
Reducing head acceleration...................................................................................................................... 10
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................10
GLOSSARY...........................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................12
2
, Abstract
This dissertation explores whether heading should be banned in football to reduce the risk of
developing neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have increased awareness of the potential
negatives associated with heading the football. This dissertation explains why heading in football is
an extraordinarily complex topic, as one must ultimately weigh up the potential negatives associated
with heading a ball, such as an increased risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy,
against the potential negative impacts of removing heading, including dulled gameplay, and the risk
of developing alternative injuries. Other strategies, such as reducing head acceleration, and
implementing heading limits are also explored. Overall, this dissertation offers a balanced
perspective on whether it is appropriate to ban heading in football to protect players’ welfare whilst
retaining the sport’s essence.
Introduction
Heading is a sport-specific skill that is a unique and key aspect of football, where the head is used
to purposefully strike the ball to redirect it1,2,3. Players can use their heads in various scenarios
throughout gameplay, and its significance can be seen in the English Premier League (EPL),
accounting for 15.3% of all goals scored in the 2022/23 season4. However, according to BBC News,
recent studies have raised concerns that regular heading of the ball could increase the risk of
football players developing dementia and dying from the disease”5. This has sparked debate on the
appropriateness of heading and whether it should even be permitted in modern-day football.
Dementia is a type of neurodegenerative disease. Neurodegenerative diseases “are conditions that
gradually damage and destroy parts of your nervous system, especially areas of your brain”6. For
context, many famous former professional athletes in contact sports have progressed to develop a
neurodegenerative disease. Mohammed Ali was diagnosed at the age of 42 with Parkinson’s
disease after a phenomenally successful boxing career7. Steve Thompson, a former professional
rugby player was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 428. Professional footballer Jeff
Astle, a centre-forward for West Bromwich Albion was incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the
age of 55 and later diagnosed to have had a type of dementia now known as Chronic Traumatic
Encephalopathy9.
So, while it is evident that former athletes in contact sports have been diagnosed with
neurodegenerative diseases, previous research had found no link between playing football and the
risk of developing this disease10. However, a new study by Dr Willie Stewart in 2020 is one of many
that has provided key evidence that potentially supports this link.5 Stewart’s study found that “former
professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia than people of the
same age range in the general population.” More specifically, research suggests that during a
football player’s career, “chronic subconcussive trauma from repetitive heading during matches and
training may cause cumulative brain injury that increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases”11.
As explored later on, subconcussion can be caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration of the
body where the brain is allowed to move in the cranium, for example, when heading a ball12. There
are various other studies supporting the link between heading the ball and developing
neurodegenerative diseases. Still, as mentioned by Dr Stewart, and other sources that I will explore
later, it is vitally important to recognise that more research is required for heading to become a
universally accepted risk factor5.
By 2050, dementia cases are expected to almost triple to 153 million people13. Football has a global
reach, with an estimated 250 million people who play football as we know it worldwide14,15.
Therefore, Football’s international governing body - Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) – must consider protecting players' welfare alongside retaining the sport’s
essence when addressing the question ‘Should heading be banned in football?’
This project aims to explore whether heading should be banned or allowed in football. It will allow
readers to gain knowledge surrounding the argument to consider and challenge the governing
bodies’ approach to heading in modern-day football to balance football’s essence with its safety. It
3
SHOULD HEADING BE
BANNED IN FOOTBALL
TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF DEVELOPING
NEURODEGENERATIVE
DISEASES?
1
,Should heading be banned in football to reduce the risk of
developing neurodegenerative diseases?
Contents
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................3
WHY HEADING SHOULD BE BANNED IN FOOTBALL.......................................................4
Heading the ball and developing neurodegenerative diseases....................................................4
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy............................................................................................................ 4
Cognitive impairment................................................................................................................................... 4
Do the potential negatives associated with heading the ball outweigh the benefits?................6
Amateur Football.......................................................................................................................................... 6
Professional Football................................................................................................................................... 6
Are certain groups/sections of people more vulnerable from heading the ball?........................6
Youth Players................................................................................................................................................ 7
Female Players.............................................................................................................................................. 7
WHY HEADING SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN FOOTBALL....................................................8
Potential Impacts of banning heading in football..........................................................................8
The impact on gameplay.............................................................................................................................. 8
The risk of alternative injuries..................................................................................................................... 8
Do the rewards associated with heading in football outweigh the risks?...................................8
Professional Players..................................................................................................................................... 9
Amateur Players............................................................................................................................................ 9
Alternative strategies to reduce the impact of heading in football..............................................9
Implementing heading limits, appropriate rest, and recovery time..........................................................9
Restricting heading in training only............................................................................................................ 9
Reducing head acceleration...................................................................................................................... 10
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................10
GLOSSARY...........................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................12
2
, Abstract
This dissertation explores whether heading should be banned in football to reduce the risk of
developing neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have increased awareness of the potential
negatives associated with heading the football. This dissertation explains why heading in football is
an extraordinarily complex topic, as one must ultimately weigh up the potential negatives associated
with heading a ball, such as an increased risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy,
against the potential negative impacts of removing heading, including dulled gameplay, and the risk
of developing alternative injuries. Other strategies, such as reducing head acceleration, and
implementing heading limits are also explored. Overall, this dissertation offers a balanced
perspective on whether it is appropriate to ban heading in football to protect players’ welfare whilst
retaining the sport’s essence.
Introduction
Heading is a sport-specific skill that is a unique and key aspect of football, where the head is used
to purposefully strike the ball to redirect it1,2,3. Players can use their heads in various scenarios
throughout gameplay, and its significance can be seen in the English Premier League (EPL),
accounting for 15.3% of all goals scored in the 2022/23 season4. However, according to BBC News,
recent studies have raised concerns that regular heading of the ball could increase the risk of
football players developing dementia and dying from the disease”5. This has sparked debate on the
appropriateness of heading and whether it should even be permitted in modern-day football.
Dementia is a type of neurodegenerative disease. Neurodegenerative diseases “are conditions that
gradually damage and destroy parts of your nervous system, especially areas of your brain”6. For
context, many famous former professional athletes in contact sports have progressed to develop a
neurodegenerative disease. Mohammed Ali was diagnosed at the age of 42 with Parkinson’s
disease after a phenomenally successful boxing career7. Steve Thompson, a former professional
rugby player was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 428. Professional footballer Jeff
Astle, a centre-forward for West Bromwich Albion was incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the
age of 55 and later diagnosed to have had a type of dementia now known as Chronic Traumatic
Encephalopathy9.
So, while it is evident that former athletes in contact sports have been diagnosed with
neurodegenerative diseases, previous research had found no link between playing football and the
risk of developing this disease10. However, a new study by Dr Willie Stewart in 2020 is one of many
that has provided key evidence that potentially supports this link.5 Stewart’s study found that “former
professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia than people of the
same age range in the general population.” More specifically, research suggests that during a
football player’s career, “chronic subconcussive trauma from repetitive heading during matches and
training may cause cumulative brain injury that increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases”11.
As explored later on, subconcussion can be caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration of the
body where the brain is allowed to move in the cranium, for example, when heading a ball12. There
are various other studies supporting the link between heading the ball and developing
neurodegenerative diseases. Still, as mentioned by Dr Stewart, and other sources that I will explore
later, it is vitally important to recognise that more research is required for heading to become a
universally accepted risk factor5.
By 2050, dementia cases are expected to almost triple to 153 million people13. Football has a global
reach, with an estimated 250 million people who play football as we know it worldwide14,15.
Therefore, Football’s international governing body - Federation Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) – must consider protecting players' welfare alongside retaining the sport’s
essence when addressing the question ‘Should heading be banned in football?’
This project aims to explore whether heading should be banned or allowed in football. It will allow
readers to gain knowledge surrounding the argument to consider and challenge the governing
bodies’ approach to heading in modern-day football to balance football’s essence with its safety. It
3
