Astle family supports report into concussion
The family of former West Brom striker Jeff Astle have taken their campaign for a Parliamentary inquiry into concussion in sport to Westminster.
His wife Laraine and daughters Dawn and Claire were in London yesterday for the discussion of a new cross-party report entitled Concussion Can Kill.
During the meeting at Portcullis House, Labour MP Chris Bryant told them: "If only 0.7 per cent of the transfer money that is spent on footballers every year was devoted to research, it would make a dramatic difference and families such as yours might not have to face this again."
Laraine broke down in tears during the meeting, saying that FA chairman Greg Dyke had not responded to their contact following a new examination of Jeff's brain which revealed he died of a disease found in those with a history of multiple concussions.
The FA has said that Mr Dyke has asked the organisation's medical specialists to review those latest findings.
Concussion Can Kill calls for protocols covering all sports, and independent research into the subject. It also stresses the need for better co-ordination between sports, schools, colleges and doctors.
Mr Bryant, who is one of the authors of the report, warned that UK sport could not afford the £455 million lawsuit being brought by American football players seeking compensation for their head injuries.
He said: "Such a legal case in the UK, which is not inconceivable if the sporting bodies refuse to act and provide proper advice and proper protection for the players, would close rugby down, I mean literally close rugby down.
"I'm conscious in Wales that the Welsh Rugby Union seems utterly complacent about concussion in Welsh rugby."
Mr Bryant added: "We're not saying concussion will kill. It won't in the vast majority of cases.
"But it can kill. It can be fatal and people need to realise the seriousness of what we're dealing with. The brain is a very fragile part of the body."
Meanwhile the Astle family have been talking to West Bromwich Albion about how the club can support their Justice for Jeff campaign, which calls on the FA to carry out its own research.
They met with club chairman Jeremy Peace last week to discuss how the two parties could support each other going forward.
They now plan to meet again in a few weeks time once a number of different ideas have been investigated.
