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I'm torn. I’m 80 per cent delighted, 20 per cent dubious. Let me explain why. For the first time in English football history, there are adult heading restrictions and that is a relief.
When giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee for their concussion in sport inquiry, I told them I estimated heading the ball 100 times a week, 40 weeks a year, for 18 years. That equated to 72,000 times in total that my brain was left wobbling like jelly on a plate.
A colleague would cross the ball and I’d head it home, in the hope that all that practice would make perfect come Saturday afternoon.
Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta heading in training earlier this year
Had these guidelines been in place when I was playing, the number of times I headed the ball would have been severely reduced.
So that’s why I’m 80 per cent positive about yesterday’s news which could, in theory, protect future generations of players. And yet, 20 per cent of me cannot help but scrutinise it.
The DCMS committee called out sport for being allowed to ‘mark its own homework’ only last week. Like vampires guarding the blood bank, you might say.
Heading in training will be restricted for professional players for the first time under new rules
Now we’ve got the authorities telling clubs, coaches and players it’s their responsibility to implement these heading restrictions themselves and ensure they’re adhered
