CHRIS SUTTON: FA must make changes not hide behind 'need for research'

CHRIS SUTTON: The FA need to take ownership of dementia fight and make real changes NOW – not hide behind the ‘need for more research’

  • Committee raged over the lack of action to protect players from brain injuries
  • FA need to make real changes and can conduct their research in the background
  • They should take ownership rather than hide behind saying ‘research is needed’

On Tuesday, I let my feelings known to MPs. I let them know that we’re stuck in a cycle of all talk and no action.

The Football Association’s thought process is: ‘Oh, research says there is a link between football and degenerative brain disease? We should research that.’

Then we’re back where we started. If I had £1 for every time I’ve heard ‘more research is needed’ I could fund the studies myself.

The FA now need to take action rather than hide behind repeated calls for more research 

The FA were left squirming by the questioning from MPs on Tuesday but given what’s gone on over the last 20 years — and that’s distinctly little — this had to happen. 

Awkward questions needed to be asked. 

I’ve not held back in holding the PFA to account. 

I even accused players’ union chief executive Gordon Taylor of having ‘blood on his hands’ at Tuesday’s hearing. 

But the FA need to take ownership. This is on them as much as on anyone. 

Dr Charlotte Cowie said they have been advised — as Sportsmail has been campaigning for — that they should limit how much heading takes place in training at professional level.

Dr Charlotte Cowie has said the FA have been advised to limit heading in the game

That’s the recommendation from a group of experts. So what’s happening? They’re researching.

They’re going to put some mouthguards into the mouths of players and look into the types of impacts that heading the ball from different distances can have. 

Then, they say, they’ll make a change. Why wait? Why not implement change now and do your research in the background? 

All you’re doing now is kicking the can down the road.




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