Football brain injury: Scottish stars Sir Alex Ferguson, Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan back campaign

A growing body of research has shown a link between repetitive head impacts and degenerative brain disease, leading to concerns that heading the ball in football could lead to long term health issues.

Some of Scotland’s most well-known football stars have joined a campaign for brain injuries in former professionals to be recognised as industrial injuries.

The former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as Alex McLeish, Gordon Strachan and Craig Levein have all signed an open letter to the Scottish Government, calling for more support for former professional players.

Leanne Crichton, Joe Harper, Maurice Malpas, Alan Rough and Pat Nevin are also among the 31 signatories.

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed calls to consider dementia in football players as an industrial injury

The campaign, called Injury Time, is being organised by Scottish Labour’s Michael Marra, an MSP for north east Scotland.

It comes in the wake of research showing former footballers have higher dementia rates than the general population. A growing body of research has shown a link between repetitive head impacts and degenerative brain disease, leading to concerns that heading the ball in football could lead to long-term health issues.

Mr Marra said recognising this as an industrial injury will lead to ex-players getting the benefits and care they need.

Sir Alex said football had been good to him, but he knew many of his colleagues had been left with life-changing illnesses as a result of the sport.

“Making a living, running out in front of tens of thousands of people to help them make memories that will last a lifetime, was a real privilege,” said Sir Alex.

“It’s clear though that playing the game has taken a huge toll on many of my former team-mates and opponents. The head knocks they took – primarily from heading the ball – has left them much more likely to suffer brain injuries and neurodegenerative disease than would otherwise have been the case.

“This should be recognised as the industrial injury it is and those boys who didn’t retire into luxury should have the access to benefits and extra support they might need.”

Mr Marra said he was grateful to the footballers who had signed the letter, calling it an “unprecedented” intervention.

“These injuries were sustained playing for us, for our entertainment,” he said. “We now have a duty to support those players and their families to live the best lives they can.

“These players did not make fortunes from the game – very far from it. This was another age, but even today the average lifetime earnings of a professional footballer in Scotland remain low in terms of the population as a whole.”

The Labour MSP added: “I’m pleased that the First Minister has indicated his willingness today to look at this issue and work across the Parliament to deliver change.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit continues to be delivered by the UK Government, who decide which conditions should be prescribed for the purposes of the benefit.

"We recognise that there are a range of views on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, which is why we have committed to a consultation in the next few months on our approach to replacing the scheme in Scotland."