Study identifies unreported pressure wave in football heading

2 Minute read, Published: April 20, 2026

An important paper is published today entitled ‘Pressure wave propagation from association football head collisions’ in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.

We welcome the publication of Dr Ieuan Phillips‘ study. This provides more evidence that the brain impacts sustained during heading of a football are of significant force. It demonstrates that there are differences of up to 55-fold in the level of force transmitted by different balls, and that more modern footballs may be more dangerous than old leather footballs.

The study has produced timely results with implications for meaningful change to player safety, and has done so without exposing any human brain to experimental risk.

If our players continue to be exposed to an occupational risk of dementia, it is an obligation of the governing bodies to minimise that hazard. Engineering safer footballs is a simple change that may help to mitigate risk to players, whilst football continues on its quest to add to the existing evidence of the detrimental effects of repetitive head impacts.

The protection of current players is not happening with the level of urgency that this crisis requires. We hope that this promotes evidence-based action. Even one current player developing CTE from repeated heading is an unacceptable occupational exposure, and the football governing bodies must be accountable for their duty of care. We hope this study helps to accelerate the pathway towards safer football.