The English Football Association said on Monday it had received approval for an experiment to eliminate deliberate headshots in ‘under 12’ matches as it seeks to reduce potential health risks and the likelihood of developing dementia.
The experiment will continue into the 2022-2023 season, with intentional headshots to be completely abolished in the 2023-2024 season if the experiment proves successful. And the FA has previously issued guidelines for limiting or abolishing headshots during practice. The lawsuit was approved by the International Football Association Board, which is responsible for making the rules of the game.
The FA said in a statement: “The aim is to help mitigate any potential risks that may be associated with headshots, including face-to-face contact, elbow contact, or head-to-head contact. “This represents a cautious approach to playing and enjoying football while ongoing research continues in this area.”
Research has linked blows to the head to chronic brain injury, highlighting the issue after five players from the 1966 World Cup-winning England team were identified as suffering from dementia. It even got to the point that a software company that worked with Premier League clubs developed a virtual reality training program in an attempt to find a solution to overcome the harmful effects of headshots.
