The Premier League have written to clubs to say they are “pro-actively looking” at research linking with football and dementia which could lead to a ban on young players heading the ball.
Dr Willie Stewart of Glasgow University found ex-footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease.
Heading in football for Under 10s has been banned in the USA since 2014. And with Dr Stewart now a member of the FA's medical advisory team, FA guidelines advising against repeated heading in youth football could now be tightened.
The Scottish FA is already considering a ban on children under 12 heading the ball after receiving the report.
American Bennet Omalu, a doctor who has worked with concussion victims in the NFL, has called for a ban on heading to ball for all players under 18 until their brains are fully developed.
The Premier League are taking the issue seriously and acting chief executive Richard Masters has told clubs they will return with recommendations after studying the research.
A club source said: “It is something they have jumped on straightaway - they are pro-actively looking at it. You don't want to be doing anything in any academy that puts boys at risk. If that is what the science tells us and that is what we need to change, then I am sure football will change it.”
The Glasgow university study was commissioned by the FA and PFA after claims that former West Brom strike Jeff Astle died because of repeated head trauma.
Wales manager Ryan Giggs recently slammed football bosses for failing to act on the findings from the studies.
“Football has made enormous steps in looking after the players but you can’t stop," he said. "These kind of studies need to be acted upon, whatever way that is."
