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Daughter of Baggies' legend Jeff Astle 'disgusted' over Match of the Day snub

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The daughter of Baggies legend Jeff Astle has spoken of her 'disgust' after BBC's Match of the Day failed to mention a protest staged by fans in honour of the Midlands footballing great.

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Albion fans applauded in the ninth minute as a show of support for the family of Hawthorns legend Astle during their away defeat at Hull City.

Mr Astle died in 2002, aged 59, from brain damage which a coroner concluded was sustained through repeatedly heading leather footballs during his career.

His family have launched a campaign, called Justice for Jeff, calling for the FA to accept the father-of-three suffered brain damage and to launch research into the effects of heading footballs.

The FA promised a 10-year study after his inquest but nothing has yet been published.

Around 2,400 travelling fans clapped in the ninth minute in honour of the number 9 shirt 'the King' wore for the Baggies, showing support for the campaign.

A banner was also unfurled by the fans.

But the action was not mentioned on Match of the Day sparking fury.

On Twitter, Mr Astle's daughter Claire said: "Disgusted. Too afraid of @FA or just too busy with the weather at Hull? My dad died! How many others?"

Wife Laraine Astle, daughters Claire Astle and Dorice Mottram and grandson Bradley Pickersgill, aged four, mark the anniversary of Jeff?Astle's death in 2012.

The striker scored 174 goals in 361 games for Albion, including the winner in the 1968 FA Cup final. He also played five times for England.

Last week, the FA released a statement seeming to apologise to the Astle family for not contacting them about the research's progress and saying it 'deeply regretted any upset caused'.

Mr Astle's daughters Dawn and Claire, however, insisted the FA had not contacted them to pass that message on.

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