Overview

• Draft amendments to the Football Governance Bill would treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological disorders as industrial injuries, obligating football bodies to cover care costs for ex-players.
• Campaigners, including Labour MP Chris Evans and ex-players' families, argue current support, such as the £1m Brain Health Fund, is insufficient to meet the needs of affected players.
• The 2019 FIELD Study revealed footballers are 3.5 times more likely to die of neurodegenerative diseases compared to the general population, intensifying calls for industry accountability.
• High-profile advocates, including regional mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, have drawn parallels to workplace injury compensation schemes in industries like mining.
• The proposed Bill also seeks to establish an independent regulator for English football to ensure financial sustainability and fan accountability across the top five tiers.