Key Highlights
- Gordon McQueen’s death linked to heading a football over decades.
- Cause of death was pneumonia resulting from mixed vascular dementia and CTE.
- Coroner found that repetitive head impacts likely contributed to CTE.
- Finding contributes to growing evidence linking football heading with brain injury.
Heading Football Linked to Death of Former Manchester United Star, Coroner Finds
Gordon McQueen, a former central defender for Manchester United and the Scotland national team, whose international career spanned from 1974 to 1981, died in 2023 at his home in North Yorkshire. The coroner’s findings revealed that heading footballs likely contributed to the brain injury which ultimately played a significant role in McQueen’s death.
Background on Gordon McQueen
McQueen was a stalwart for Manchester United, playing 284 games and helping the team win the FA Cup in 1983. His career also included stints at Leeds United where he won the league title with the club in 1973-74. He played 30 times for Scotland between 1974 and 1981, contributing to the national team’s success.
Coroner’s Finding
The coroner, Jon Heath, delivered a narrative conclusion at an inquest held in Northallerton on Monday, January 26, 2026. He stated that McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a brain disorder linked to repeated head impacts.
Coroner Heath noted: “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.” This conclusion aligns with growing evidence suggesting a link between heading in football and long-term neurological damage.
Family Testimonies
Hayley McQueen, the daughter of Gordon McQueen, shared her father’s history during the hearing. She recalled that her father had told his family previously that heading footballs for so long “probably hasn’t helped.” He was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021, which contributed to his frailty and eventual death from pneumonia.
Mrs. McQueen mentioned how her father suffered some concussions during his career but continued to play despite the injuries. She described how he would lie down in a darkened room with a headache after returning home from Manchester United training sessions when she was young.
Expert Analysis
The coroner’s findings are part of an ongoing debate over the impact of heading on footballers’ health. Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, analyzed McQueen’s brain after his death and confirmed evidence of CTE.
Professor Stewart testified that “heading the ball” contributed to CTE more than minimally. He acknowledged that there was only one piece of evidence available: McQueen’s high exposure to heading a football during his career.
Call for Ban on Heading in Youth Football
The case has led to increased calls for banning heading in youth football. In the 2024-25 season, heading was prohibited in English football matches involving players under 9 years old. The ban was extended to include under-10s this season and is projected to cover under-11 games from the 2026-27 season.
This case adds to a growing body of research suggesting that repetitive head impacts, even during sports like football, can lead to long-term brain damage. As more evidence emerges, the debate on player safety in contact sports continues to gain momentum.
The findings of this inquest underscore the importance of continued research and regulatory measures aimed at protecting players’ health while ensuring they can still enjoy the sport.
