HEADING FOR DANGER
When news was released that Sir Bobby charlton had been diagnosed with dementia, it was the tipping point for football to finally become truly serious about a scandal hidden in the shadows for so long.
He was the fifth member of england’s 1966 World cup-winning team to suffer from dementia or related illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, and so joined a heartbreaking list of other famous names from the world of football.
Ferenc Puskas, Sir Alf ramsey, John charles, Gerd Muller, danny Blanchflower, Bob Paisley, Bellini – the captain of Brazil’s 1958 World cup winners – these heroes are just a few among tens of thousands.
The game knew, but the game neglected its idols. The revelation about Bobby charlton was one tragedy too many. The Professional Footballers’ Association set up an instant task force, and there was widespread media reporting not only in the UK but also across the globe. The front page featured a picture of the 1966 england World cup team, with a long article on the subject inside.
