Injury Time

I was pleased to join Michael Marra MSP and a number of other activists outside the Dundee derby at Tannadice Park on Sunday.  We were campaigning on the Injury Time campaign about brain injuries in footballers.

This campaign is supported by the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland, the GMB and Scottish Labour.  As a member of the GMB and Scottish Labour I was happy to support this.  I am not sure why I have never been a member of the Professional Footballers Association Scotland.

People will be aware of the many famous footballers who have had dementia.  Like many others I was inspired by the work of the Amanda Kopel and others campaigning for Frank's Law.  

Many other great names in football seem to have been injured like Billy McNeill, Denis Law, Gordon Wallace and Jim McLean.

The Injury Time campaign is calling on the Scottish Government and the footballing authorities to classify brain injury as an industrial injury; fund research into the practical and preventative support needed in the game and establish a working group to consider issues around brain injury, including in the grassroots game.

If you agree with this you can sign the petition 

Michael Marra is leading a debate in the Scottish Parliament on this on Tuesday and I hope that the Scottish Government and the Scottish football authorities are listening and are committed to helping footballing heroes who are now into Injury Time with brain injuries.