'Football is morally bankrupt': Stars back Nobby Stiles' son's dementia campaign

Graeme Souness, Gary Lineker and Sir Geoff Hurst have backed a campaign calling for football to help players suffering with brain injuries. Credit: PA

A long list of former stars, among them Sir Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker, Graeme Souness and also the family of Sir Bobby Charlton, have backed a campaign calling for football to share its billions, and help look after players suffering from brain injuries.

John Stiles, the son of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, who died from a form of dementia linked to repeatedly heading a ball, leads the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) organisation.

Stiles believes football has failed former players suffering from brain injuries: “The football industry is cash-rich but morally bankrupt.”

John Stiles (left) speaking to ITV News in 2022, and World Cup winner Nobby Stiles (right) in 2010. Credit: ITV News/PA

The FFJ details the sport’s riches, from the Premier League’s £10 billion TV rights deal, the Players Foundation’s £50 million cash reserves, to the £2.4 billion spent in last year’s summer transfer window.

Stiles cites the experiences of the families of Gordon McQueen, Joe Kinnear and Chris Nicholls who he says are just a few of many hundreds who would have benefited from “respect and kindness through first-in-class support, to include care home costs and financial help for their widows.”

He accuses the Professional Footballers Association, effectively the players’ union, of failing to protect its members.

“The football industry will be recognised as another Post Office type national scandal if it and the government continue to fail these vulnerable men and their widows."

Stiles says football is following a strategy adopted by cigarette manufacturers; “It has cynically adopted the “big-tobacco” playbook in denying and delaying so that victims die before they can get the help they need and deserve.”

Football will get a new independent regulator soon, but “player welfare” will not be part of its remit.

Here's the full list of signatories calling for more support for those suffering from brain injuries in football:

  • Alan Birchenall

  • Alan Gilliver and family

  • Alan Paris

  • Alex Stepney

  • Andy Blair

  • Andy Legg

  • Andy Ritchie

  • Andy Townsend

  • Billy Rodaway

  • Bob Worthington

  • Sir Bobby Charlton’s family

  • Brandon Ormsby and family

  • Carlton Palmer

  • Charlie Palmer

  • Chris Hudson

  • Chris Morgan

  • Chris Short

  • Chris Sutton

  • Chris Wilder

  • Chris Withe

  • Colin Waldron

  • Craig Short

  • Darren Sheridan

  • Dave Cusack

  • Dave Norton

  • David Hamilton

  • David Harbottle

  • David May

  • David McVay

  • David Speedie

  • Dean Saunders

  • Dean Windass

  • Dean Yates

  • Devon White

  • Dick Edwards

  • Don Goodman

  • Don Masson

  • Eddie Gray

  • Emile Heskey

  • Frank Casper

  • Garry Birtles

  • Gary Cliffe

  • Gary Hamson

  • Gary Jones

  • Gary Lineker

  • Gary Lund

  • Gary Martindale

  • Gary McAllister

  • Gary Pallister

  • Gary Shaw

  •  Sir Geoff Hurst

  • Geoff Nulty

  • Glynn Snodin

  • Graeme Lee

  • Graeme Souness

  • Graham Kavanagh

  • Guy Branton

  • Howard Wilkinson

  • Iain McCullough

  • Ian Baird

  • Ian Barraclough

  • Ian Marshall

  • Ian McPartland

  • Ian Snodin

  • Iwan Roberts

  • Jim Beglin

  • Jim Thompson

  • Joey Barton

  • John Aldridge

  • John Barnwell

  • John Beresford

  • John Brechin

  • John Buckley

  • John Coyne

  • John Dungworth

  • John Giles

  • John Hartson

  • John Lukic

  • John Mclelland

  • John McNamee

  • John Pearson

  • John Rudge

  • John Sheridan

  • John Smith

  • Jon Nixon

  • Jon Parkin

  • Kevin Gallen

  • Kevin Ratcliffe

  • Kevin Summerfield

  • Lee Duxbury

  • Lee McCullough

  • Lee Power

  • Lee Sharpe

  • Les Bradd

  • Liam Brady

  • Lou Macari

  • Mark Aizlewood

  • Mark Atkins

  • Mark Barnard

  • Mark Crossley

  • Mark Draper

  • Mark Lawrenson

  • Martin Dobson

  • Matt Le Tissier

  • Mel Sterland

  • Michael Johnson

  • Michael Wilson

  • Mickey Ambrose

  • Mickey Thomas

  • Mike Edwards

  • Mike Leng

  • Mike Lyons

  • Mike Newell

  • Neil Aspin

  • Neil Cox

  • Neil Redfearn

  • Neil Ruddock

  • Niall Quinn

  • Nigel Jemson

  • Noel Blake

  • Norman Whiteside

  • Paddy Kenny

  • Paul Davis

  • Paul Devlin

  • Paul Fletcher

  • Paul Garner

  • Paul Jewell

  • Paul Merson

  • Paul Reaney

  • Paul Walsh

  • Paul Walsh

  • Perry Groves

  • Peter Reid

  • Peter Swan

  • Rian Horseman

  • Richard Dryden

  • Roger Eli

  • Ronnie Goodlass

  • Ronnie Whelan

  • Shaun Derry

  • Simon Grayson

  • Stan Ternent

  • Steve Cherry

  • Steve Daley

  • Steve Gaughan

  • Steve Howie

  • Steve Mcvann

  • Stuart McCall

  • Stuart Pearson

  • Terry Conroy

  • Terry Curran

  • Tommy Johnson

  • Tommy Spencer

  • Tony Cascarino

  • Tony Currie

  • Tony Gale

  • Tony Parkes and family

  • Tony Scully

  • Tony Scully

  • Tony Woodcock

  • Trevor Womble

  • Viv Anderson

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