1
0
Why Are Footballers And Their Families Now Scared?
Why Are Footballers And Their Families Now Scared?
Football is the most famous sport, with the highest number of fans in the world. This alone will give a good sense of belonging and responsibility to anyone who finds themselves in this line of work. When the glitz and glam fade off, what are the players left with? They say all that glitters is not gold, but it is a little hard to see this in the football arena. It is a dream come true for many players and their families because it provides the financial stability that many people are working and hoping for.
1. The Dark Side of Foot Ball
Despite the long list of benefits that a football career brings to the lives and families of its players, there is a need for concern. So why should they all worry about the future? Football is considered a contact sport because they are not short of being physically and mentally demanding. The strength, agility, and reflexes of these football stars are what they are praised and loved for by their fans worldwide, but the need for these achievements has brought about the issues they face in their old age.
However, a disturbing trend, which is now being linked to sportsmen and women, has given rise to the need to worry about the unknown future, their future. Recently, a disturbing outcome of a valid search has shed light on the common path for sports individuals. This is coming as a result of the hunt for the extra skills that are required to get these footballers winning awards, like the ability to dribble, head, and tackle.
The repeated heading, falling, and rough tackles collectively cause brain and nerve damage that follow the players throughout their lives, showing up in the form of memory loss, depression, anxiety, dementia, and untimely demise.
The alarming prevalence of neurological diseases among former football players is now a wake-up call, and it’s time for players, their families, and the sports community at large to make a significant change to what is being taught, practiced, and permitted.
The issue has become critical enough to be discussed majorly on BBC1 on Tuesday 25th March, 2025, after it was discovered that a confirmed link has been made between a very similar old age disease of Footballers, and sports individuals.
2. Correctional Acts
This research outcome has prompted the urgent need for professionals to share alternative ways towards achieving or creating a successful sports career. This is not only important for the players but for their family and friends, who have to witness this turn of event or live through it while assisting their loved ones who have been diagnosed.
3. Consequences of This Prediction For Footballers
The consequences of having to live happily and fulfilled through the young years of active sports, money, fame, all other benefits available for sportsmen and women, taking all the risks out in the field, to attain a height, some recognition, and an award, and trying out all that your strength can carry, only to be diagnosed with an incurable health condition, that takes the whole family to chip in effort, long after football.
Players who have been diagnosed will experience memory loss, mood swings, depression, verbal and physical altercations, which can strain relationships they have with loved ones, and alter their old age experience because they have to maintain hospital appointments.
These financial difficulties come from using up the savings and income to settle the medical bills, for something can not be cured but managed through life, and that may cause some family members to quit their life and move closer, or in, with the person in need. Some people battle thoughts that involve ending it all, while their family push for assistance. From parents to spouses and children.
These people might not know just how much this may affect them. It will only be realistic when a loved one no longer recognises them, shows challenging behaviours that will be overwhelming for them, which can show in frustration, anxiety and despair. This can last throughout their lives because there is no known cure to these sets of health conditions.
4. What Can Be Done?
While there is still a gap between now and when these footballers grow old, we will do all it takes to prevent the impending consequences of repeated head trauma in the name of playing football, Some corrective actions can be taken.
1. Improved concussion protocols: Football teams and coaches must prioritise player safety by implementing concussion protocols. A player is removed from the field immediately after a head injury is sustained, giving them a realistic recovery time. This reduces the urgency the footballers have to return to work/practice. This can also mean prohibiting the use of the head during football practices and the games.
2. Reduced contact in practice: Limiting contact in practice can help reduce the cumulative effect of repeated head trauma. Because that takes away the need to tackle roughly. But what is a football match without tackles, dribbling, touching, and heading? This can include non-contact drills and flag football.
3. Increased education and awareness: At every level of football practice, especially the one for the younger players from age 5, coaches, advocates, and families must be educated about the risks associated with repeated head trauma so they can help the young players understand the consequences, and see the need to prevent it from happening.
This includes recognising the signs and symptoms of concussion and seeking medical attention immediately, telling their coaches when they have used their head, and most importantly, teaching them to abstain from using their heads during the games.
They need to be taught early enough to give the next generation of players enough time to avoid using their heads.
4. Support for players and families: While we try to teach, prevent and protect the current footballers from the impact of heading the ball, there should also be a significant consideration for the older footballers, who have already been affected by these ignorant choices.
Football clubs, organisations and teams must support players and families affected by this diagnosis. This includes access to medical care, counseling, and social care. For the former players who have been prescribed life-long medication to help with the management of their health condition, the social care aspect also exists.
It is well known that the council and government are expected to be responsible for the social care of older citizens, but the football clubs can also support, especially with the current economy, where what used to be enough is no longer adequate, and councils are going bankrupt. Football clubs are located for the elderly and help soften the financial blow of their new way of life.
5. Prohibit the Glorification of heading a football: Football stars are considered very influential around the world. When a star with millions of fans is seen heading a football, the fans will try to learn that move to perfection. This process exposes them to continuous head contact with the football, which shouldn’t be so. This will lead to a neurological disease.
Conclusion
The risks associated with repeated head trauma in football are real because a link has been established between football players and dementia diagnosis. For this reason, players, their families, and the sports community must take proactive steps to mitigate these risks and prioritise player safety, especially among the younger players, at practices and games. Ensure the prohibition of the heading balls at games to prevent giving the wrong impression to their fans.
By working together, we can ensure the continued enjoyment of football for generations to come without the devastating consequences of continued head contact with football.
As we move forward, we must prioritise the health and well-being of football players, both on and off the field. By doing so, we can create a safer, more sustainable future for these beloved football games.
