The FA is facing backlash for trying to block the investigation into the death of a former footballer

According to The Athletic, the Football Association (FA) has come under fire after attempting to prevent a coroner from investigating the link between football and the death of a former professional player with dementia.

Former Middlesbrough defender Bill Gates died last October aged 79 after a long battle with a degenerative brain disease. An autopsy revealed he suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition associated with repeated head impacts.

Chief coroner Jeremy Chipperfield initially wanted to investigate whether Gates' death was caused by trauma during his football career. However, the FA intervened, arguing that such an investigation was “not in the public interest”.

The FA's stance has been widely criticized. Many accused the umbrella organization of trying to protect its interests instead of searching for the truth.

The Gates family expressed their disappointment and said they hoped the FA would share their desire for a thorough investigation.

The incident raises further questions about the FA's handling of the growing number of cases of former footballers suffering from dementia.

The link between head injuries and the condition is becoming increasingly clear, but the FA has been criticized for its slow response to the problem.

In 2019, experts at the University of Glasgow postulated that former professional footballers are three and a half times more likely to die from dementia than their peers in the general population.

Another long-term study of male soccer players in Sweden found that they were one and a half times more likely to develop dementia than the general population.

Rather than trying to block dementia investigations, the FA needs to make more effort to understand and tackle the problem of head injuries in football.

The FA should invest in studies to better understand the long-term effects of head injuries and how they can be prevented. They must ensure that players who sustain head injuries are properly examined and treated and that they do not return to play too early.

A recent study from the University of Nottingham proves beyond doubt the dangers associated with heading the ball. The FA could work with medical experts, players' unions and other governing bodies to develop a well-thought-out approach to solving the heading problem in the game.

The FA is trialling the abolition of heading in all age groups under 12, but more needs to be done.