The family of former Scotland and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen has issued a powerful plea for football to enhance player safety protocols, following a coroner's conclusion that repetitive heading likely contributed to the brain injury that played a role in his death.
Inquest Findings and Family's Anguish
Gordon McQueen, who earned 30 caps for Scotland and enjoyed a distinguished 16-year career with clubs including Manchester United and Leeds, passed away at his North Yorkshire home in June 2023, aged 70. An inquest held earlier this month in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, heard that his cause of death was pneumonia, which developed after he became frail and bedridden for several months.
Coroner Jon Heath stated that the pneumonia was a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In a narrative conclusion, Mr Heath declared: "It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE."
Daughters' Emotional Appeal for Change
Following the hearing, McQueen's daughters, TV presenter Hayley McQueen and her sister Anna Forbes, spoke out about the urgent need for action. Hayley McQueen emphasised that football authorities should have acted decisively years ago, referencing the similar case of former England striker Jeff Astle, whose death in 2002 was attributed to an industrial disease from heading.
"It should have been a turning point many, many years ago when we learned the same thing with Jeff Astle and not much has happened between that time and now," Ms McQueen said. "They need the help from the footballing authorities, but there also needs to be changes too – potential legislation and education."
Anna Forbes expressed profound disappointment with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), describing the players' union as a "disgrace" for allegedly failing to respond to pleas for help while her father was alive.
"It depleted my parents' lifetime savings looking for private care for my dad and we relied on charities such as Head for Change to support his respite care because the PFA gave us nothing, no support whatsoever," she revealed.
PFA Response and Ongoing Initiatives
A spokesperson for the PFA acknowledged the need for a collective response, stating: "There is an ongoing need for a collective response, from football and beyond, to ensure former players affected by neurodegenerative disease, and their families, are properly recognised and supported."
The union is actively lobbying the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) to classify neurodegenerative conditions among footballers as an industrial disease, which would enable affected players and families to access Government support. Additionally, the PFA continues to advocate for the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to trial temporary concussion substitutes.
The PFA and the Football Association co-funded the pivotal 2019 FIELD Study, which found that footballers are three and a half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease compared to the general population. In September 2023, the PFA and the Premier League established the Football Brain Health Fund, initially valued at £1 million, to assist former players and their families.
Criticism from Advocacy Groups
However, the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) group has heavily criticised the fund's initial amount, with leading figure John Stiles, son of former England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, describing it as a "pittance." Nobby Stiles died in 2020, with a post-mortem confirming he had CTE.
In a statement, FFJ remarked: "Sadly, the McQueen family have not been alone in the traumatic experiences they have had to face. The PFA – a body which is there to protect its members – did not even attend the inquest. Make of that what you will. We believe that they have questions to answer and will one day be forced to face up to their responsibilities."
The Stiles family is part of an ongoing legal action against the FA, the Football Association of Wales, the EFL, and IFAB, alleging negligence concerning head injuries.
Football Association's Position
An FA spokesperson extended "sincerest sympathy" to McQueen's family and friends, adding: "Whilst any association between heading a football and later life brain health outcomes remains an area of ongoing scientific and medical research and debate, we continue to take a leading role in reviewing and improving the safety of our game together with all stakeholders and international governing bodies."
This case underscores the growing pressure on football's governing bodies to implement concrete measures, from legislative changes to enhanced educational programmes, to safeguard players from the long-term risks associated with repetitive head impacts.
