Head Injuries Whilst Playing Football – What Are The Costs For Concussion Long-Term & Can I Make A Claim?

As well as an on-going debate about whether football associations and clubs are cautious enough when it comes to head injuries, there are growing fears that regular heading of a ball increases the risk of players developing dementia.

Getting injured when playing football is nothing out of the ordinary – but when it comes to head injuries, it’s important to be fully aware of the risks, such as concussion, and take the necessary precautions.

There have been many incidents that have raised questions about the concussion assessment process and the judgement of club medical staff:

• In September 2016, Manchester United forward Anthony Martial suffered a heavy blow to the head after a clash with Daryl Janmaat during a match against Watford. Despite being in clear discomfort, Martial was deemed to ok to continue. But minutes later, an error by Martial led to Watford’s opening goal, and the player was then substituted, clutching his head as he left the pitch.
• Further concerns were highlighted recently after Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho collided with Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson during a Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium on Saturday 22 February 2020. Iheanacho was allowed to play on after he was punched in the head, only to be removed at half-time after a full assessment was undertaken by the club’s medical staff.

What is concussion?

Concussion is an injury to the brain that temporarily effects how it functions. It occurs because of an impact to the head and can cause:

• Dizziness
• Nausea or sickness
• Confusion, or trouble processing or keeping hold of information
• Sensitivity to light
• Distorted eyesight
• Loss of consciousness

How is concussion detected?

Identifying whether someone has concussion can be tricky, mostly because symptoms can often develop and worsen over time.

There’s also the danger of what’s known as “second-impact” syndrome, which occurs when the brain swells rapidly after a person suffers a second concussion before symptoms from and earlier one have subsided, risking long-term damage.

That’s why when it comes to football, if there is any doubt, a player shouldn’t continue on the pitch until they are fully assessed and, if required, treated.

Current guidelines state that referees should stop a match for up to three minutes to allow a player to get treatment. If there are any symptoms of concussion, the player must be substituted.

In the high-pressure environment of a match, doctors must be given sufficient time and space to assess a player with suspected concussion and protect their long-term health – with medical professionals stating that 10 minutes would be adequate. This is the case in rugby union, where players leave the pitch and are temporarily replaced to ensure an assessment of at least 10 minutes for suspected concussions.

Am I entitled to compensation if I’ve had a concussion related injury whilst playing football?

Generally, when playing football, you’re doing so being fully aware of the risks. However, injuries, including blows to the head, can have life-altering consequences for players.

If you’ve been involved in an incident whilst playing football that wasn’t your fault and it’s caused a concussion related injury, you may be entitled to claim compensation, which can help with medical bills and lost wages.

To make a claim, you must provide proof that:

• There was a reckless disregard for your safety and well-being.
• There was a deliberate intention to injure you.
• Your injury was worsened by poor protocols/practices for assessment, treatment, removal from the pitch, and care.

What about a head injury caused by heading a football?

At the end of February, the FA issued new guidelines banning children aged 11 and under from heading in football training in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The new guidance for coaches also puts limits on how much heading older children should do.

This announcement has come after a study by the University of Glasgow showed former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative diseases than members of the general population of the same age.

West Brom legend and England international Jeff Astle died aged 59 in 2002. A re-examination of the centre forward’s brain in 2014 found that he died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which the coroner ruled had been caused by the repeated heading of heavy leather footballs.

While not much is known about the risks from concussion in football, even less is known about the long-term effects from heading the ball repeatedly. Although evidence of a link between playing football and dementia has increased, it’s a complex disease and very rare for it to be caused by a single factor – and the studies so far haven’t considered all the other potential triggers, such as age, lifestyle and genetics.

Nonetheless, when you consider that speed at which a ball travels in a professional game (an average of 60mph, sometimes as much as 80mph), then it shouldn’t be surprising that repetitive head-on collisions are likely to cause damage to the brain over time.

For former players who now find themselves with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions, it’s very difficult to bring a successful legal case. Proving causation (i.e. showing that heading the ball was the cause of the condition) would be extremely difficult and, as the risks were not known at the material time, there was no foreseeable risk against which to guard.

However, now that research has moved on, and a possible link between the two has been shown, it’s important to take the risk seriously and the safeguard and protect younger players against neurological damage.