Group of 35 former footballers sue English football for negligence in brain injury claims

TO group of 35 former soccer players, several of them first division players, are suing several English football bodies for brain injuries suffered while playing the sport.

The players are suing the English Football League, Welsh Football Association, English Football Leaguewhich covers the Second to Fourth Divisionsand the IFABwho designs the rules of the game, for being “negligent” in protect players from suffering brain injuries caused by heading the ball.

During the time that this litigation has continued, six plaintiffs have died, including Joe Kiennar, an ex Tottenham Hotspur legend, Ireland coach and coach of Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, last April. He died of vascular dementia.

The plaintiffs have presented countless medical records.

The plaintiffs' attorneys have presented 8,000 pages of medical records as evidence and have said the players have had to live with irreversible neurological injuries, including dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, post-concussion syndrome, epilepsy, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease.

Richard BoardmanProsecution lawyer, said that the first hearing, which will be held on Wednesday pending the trial date, seeks “justice” for those who were not protected from brain damage by football authorities.

“The defendants are trying to drag out the process,” he added.

An FA spokesperson said they could not comment because there was an ongoing legal process, but added that they were continually analyzing and analyzing. improve sport safety.