David Beckham backs group calling on football’s leaders to support ex-pros affected by dementia – as the former Red Devils star joins Manchester and Liverpool mayors in call for more action
David Beckham has given his backing to a group calling on football’s leaders to support those affected by dementia.
The Manchester United and England legend has thrown his weight behind the Football Families for Justice group, on a day when famous names from across the game gathered in the city where he made his name.
A host of ex-players – including Beckham’s former United teammates Gary Pallister and David May, former Everton player and manager Peter Reid, Leeds star Gary McAllister and Liverpool playmaker Jan Molby – joined the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool to call for more action and financial aid.
Studies have found evidence of a link between football and an increased risk of dementia (3.46 times more than the general public) and higher rates of death due to neurodegenerative diseases, thanks to repetitive heading of the ball.
In 2020, Beckham backed Mail Sport’s campaign, spearheaded by columnist Chris Sutton and John Stiles, son of World Cup winner Nobby, which called on the sport to tackle its dementia crisis.
That campaign scored a number of victories, but the fight continues. Now Beckham has voiced his support for FFJ, which is calling on the government to amend the Football Governance Bill and place a statutory duty on football authorities and the PFA to set up a financial support scheme with players and their families.
David Beckham has thrown his weight behind the the Football Families for Justice group
A host of ex-players – including Beckham’s former United teammates Gary Pallister joined the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool to call for more action
‘As a young player at Manchester United, I was privileged to be guided and mentored by (ex-coaches) Eric Harrison, Nobby Stiles and my dad’s hero Sir Bobby Charlton,’ Beckham said via video message.
‘Like thousands of ex-players, all three died from neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. I want to add my support to the work of John Stiles and Football Families for Justice in their campaign to meet the needs of those affected. We need the football family to come together and allocate resources to help address the tragedy of these devastating diseases.
‘Let’s ensure that victims and their families are treated with kindness, respect and best-in-class support. I hope you will join us in ensuring a better future for our former colleagues – the many ex-professional footballers who have brought so much joy to so many fans and for their loved ones.’
A video from Sutton was also played at the event. ‘My dad Mike passed away four years ago,’ the former Celtic, Blackburn and Norwich man explained. ‘He died because of heading a football.
‘He had dementia and he suffered horrendously at the end. It was very upsetting for all of our family. I am sending this message on behalf of my family and all the other families of ex-players who have suffered and died in the most unimaginable manner and the ex-players who are still suffering thanks to a lack of support from the footballing authorities.
‘Let’s hope with this group garnering support that things actually start to change because the footballing authorities have done nowhere near enough I won’t hold my breath but fingers crossed that the ex players and their families start getting the support they deserve from the game.’
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, and Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, hosted the event, where testimonies were heard from former players, their families, MPs, medical experts and campaigners.
