Gordon McQueen Inquest Links Heading To Fatal Brain Disease

The death of former Scotland and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen has reignited the debate about the long-term health risks associated with heading a football, after a coroner ruled that the repeated head impacts he endured during his career were likely a significant factor in his fatal brain disease. McQueen, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 70, had been diagnosed with mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)—a condition increasingly linked to repeated blows to the head in contact sports.

On January 26, 2026, Coroner Jon Heath delivered his findings at an inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, concluding that McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of both dementia and CTE. According to BBC, Heath stated, "It is likely that repetitive head impacts, sustained by heading the ball while playing football, contributed to the CTE." He further clarified that the combination of CTE and vascular dementia led to the pneumonia that ultimately claimed McQueen’s life. The inquest’s ruling follows a growing body of research and high-profile cases that have forced the footballing world to confront uncomfortable truths about the sport’s risks.

McQueen’s professional career spanned from 1970 to 1985, during which he made almost 350 appearances for clubs including St Mirren, Leeds United—where he won the First Division title in 1974—and Manchester United, with whom he lifted the FA Cup in 1983. He was capped 30 times for Scotland and later moved into management and coaching. Known for his prowess in the air, McQueen scored numerous set-piece goals with his head, a skill that ironically may have contributed to his decline.

After his death, McQueen’s brain was examined by Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Stewart found evidence of CTE in several areas of the brain and described a membrane that appeared torn. As reported by Metro, Stewart explained that symptoms of CTE—such as cognitive decline and changes in behavior—are "typical in individuals who have long careers – professional footballers and rugby players." He added that, among footballers, defenders like McQueen are particularly at risk, while goalkeepers, who rarely head the ball, have a risk equivalent to the general population.

For McQueen’s family, the inquest’s findings were both a confirmation of their suspicions and a call to action. Hayley McQueen, his daughter and a Sky Sports presenter, spoke candidly about her father’s struggles and the toll his illness took on the family. "Dad absolutely loved everything about football, but ultimately, it took him in the end," Hayley told BBC. She described how her father’s symptoms differed from traditional dementia, noting that his personality changed dramatically, and that the family’s savings were depleted seeking private care. "I know a lot of footballers whose families have reached out, who have symptoms very similar to that of my dad, and I think we're going to start to see more and more," she said. Hayley also recalled her father’s own suspicions, sharing, "He would say 'yes, heading a football all those years probably hasn't helped.'"

McQueen’s daughter has become an outspoken advocate for change, urging football authorities to do more to protect current and future generations. "It should have been a turning point many, many years ago when we learned the same thing with Jeff Astle and not much has happened between that time and now," she told Metro, referencing another footballer whose death was linked to CTE. "Hopefully, my dad’s legacy will not just be what he gave football on the pitch but what we can learn from this and make sure that this really horrible problem isn’t a problem for future generations. They need the help from the footballing authorities, but there also needs to be changes too – potential legislation and just education."

Her sister, Anna Forbes, echoed these sentiments, telling BBC, "I think the football authorities are scared. They're not sure what the best approach is, but I think now there's more evidence that it does impact players, they've got to do more. They've got to stand up and make a change. Football is a beautiful sport but it doesn't need to take people's lives."

The issue of heading and brain injury in football has been under scrutiny for years, especially since the case of Jeff Astle, the former Notts County and West Bromwich Albion striker who died in 2002 after suffering from a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated heading. According to BBC, the Football Association (FA) and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) jointly funded the 'Field' study in 2019, which found that footballers were 3.5 times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population. In 2022, the FA became the first national association to remove deliberate heading in grassroots matches for under-12s, but questions remain about how consistently these guidelines are enforced.

Judith Gates, founder of the Headsafe Football charity, stressed the importance of reducing heading, especially in training. She told BBC, "CTE is only caused by repetitive head impacts. Therefore, how do you solve? You reduce the frequency. Most of the head impacts take place in training." Gates also highlighted a worrying lack of awareness among coaches, noting that after working with 44 English Football League clubs, only one percent knew about the FA’s guidelines on heading.

Brain injury association Headway UK’s chief executive, Luke Griggs, called on football to "go much further in order to safeguard future generations." Speaking to Metro, Griggs warned, "We cannot afford for Gordon’s verdict to be seen as a one-off situation. There will be hundreds, if not thousands of families seeking similar answers. More needs to be done to instil an evolution of attitudes towards brain health in sport, particularly at grassroots level." He advocated for a government-led public health campaign and urged sports governing bodies to fully commit to change.

The FA, for its part, maintains that the link between heading and brain health is still under scientific debate. A spokesperson told Metro, "We continue to take a leading role in reviewing and improving the safety of our game together with all stakeholders and international governing bodies. We have introduced a number of proactive precautionary steps to review and address potential risk factors whilst ongoing research continues." These include heading guidance in both the professional and amateur game and the optimization of concussion protocols.

The PFA has called for greater clarity on the status of conditions linked to repetitive head impacts and emphasized the need for a collective response to support former players and their families. "There is an ongoing need for a collective response, from football and beyond, to ensure former players affected by neurodegenerative disease, and their families, are properly recognised and supported," a PFA spokesperson told both Metro and BBC.

Nigel Huddleston, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commented to Metro that the coroner’s ruling provides "further evidence of long-term risk of brain injury" from heading. He advocated for better concussion protocols and stricter guidelines but cautioned against an outright ban, saying, "Any sport involving physical contact comes with risks. But it is important we know what those risks are – and the Gordon McQueen inquest provides further evidence of long-term risk of brain injury. The FA, PFA and other stakeholders need to reflect on this new evidence."

As the footballing world digests the findings of McQueen’s inquest, the pressure mounts for meaningful action. For families like the McQueens, the hope is that his legacy will be not just his achievements on the pitch, but a safer game for generations to come.