Call for retired footballers with dementia to receive benefits from SNP Government

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Marra, who is trying to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader, said he would commit a future Labour Government to the policy.

A Scots Labour leadership candidate has said delivering justice for ex-footballers with dementia will be a priority if he wins the contest.

Michael Marra said he will push the SNP Government to help former pros whose brain damage was caused by heading the ball.

A study by Glasgow Uni’s Willie Stewart found ex-footballers are about three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative brain disease.

Defenders are also five times more likely to have dementia than non-footballers, with experts blaming headers.

In the previous term of the Parliament, Marra led a campaign for football-related dementia to be treated as an industrial injury.

It would involve the SNP using its devolved powers to ensure the people affected can claim benefits.

The campaign was backed by Scotland legends like Sir Alex Ferguson, Willie Miller, Alex McLeish, Craig Levein and Gordon Strachan.

Marra, the North East MSP who is going head-to-head with Joe Fagan in the race to succeed Anas Sarwar, said:

“Holyrood needs to back Scotland’s football heroes and recognise the impact these conditions have on their lives and their families.

“People living with conditions they developed as a result of their working lives deserve support from their government and their parliament.

“So I will push for action on this during this Parliament at Holyrood as Scottish Labour leader. If change is blocked by other parties I will commit a future Scottish Labour government to doing it.

“We can’t let these heroes down.”

An increasing number of former footballers have died after receiving a dementia diagnosis.

Celtic legend Billy McNeill and fellow Scotland great Gordon McQueen passed away after a battle with dementia.

Manchester United and Scotland hero Denis Law blamed headers for his dementia before he died last year.

He said: “What else would it be? You were heading the ball, which was quite heavy in those days, but you didn’t think about it. We just thought it was normal.”

Dons legend McLeish backed the campaign in 2023: “The call being made by Michael Marra to recognise brain injuries in football as an industrial injury is one I fully support. This would give players and their families access to the benefits and the support they need.

“It won’t fix the problem, we can’t turn back time, but we can make their lives easier.

“There is an opportunity to do things differently here in Scotland. We can’t run the clock down.”