A FORMER Premier League and England ace is suing the FA for damages in a £300million brain injury case.
The European Cup winner is one of 15 players who claim heading the ball caused dementia or other conditions.
They are part of a wider legal action brought by 379 sportspeople and their families against the governing bodies for football and rugby.
Sources said the star, who played during the 1990s and won several caps for the Three Lions, was added to the claim in the past two weeks.
His inclusion is a significant moment in the case because it is likely to shatter the myth that players only from the 1960s and 1970s had been affected as they were heading heavy leather footballs.
Researchers say modern balls travel at greater speeds, increasing the impact on the skull.
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So far, 105 rugby league and 260 former rugby union players as well as the 15 ex-footballers have joined the lawsuit, which will be heard in the High Court.
Another 20 former footballers are in the process of issuing claims.
They are suing, among others, the International Football Association Board, The FA, the English Football League and the Football Association of Wales.
Some of the claimants have died and were found to have a type of brain damage known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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Those still alive have dementia, Parkinson’s disease, post-concussion syndrome, epilepsy or motor neurone disease.
Their lawyer, Richard Boardman, of Rylands Garth, told The Sun: “We allege there’s been a systematic failure by the governing bodies to protect players.”
Those whose deaths have been linked to heading the ball include West Brom’s Jeff Astle, who died at 56 in 2002. England’s 1966 heroes Ray Wilson, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton and manager Sir Alf Ramsey all had dementia.
Nobby’s son, John, who is part of the lawsuit, said: “In the fullness of time this will be seen as the greatest scandal in sport.
“The players have been completely failed. They are uninformed and unprepared for the dangers.”
He wants action including longer recovery time following concussion.
The FA declined to comment.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
