Legal Action Taken Against Football Authorities Over Brain Injuries: Families of Late Wales Internationals Keith Pontin and Alan Jarvis Involved
The families of former Wales internationals Keith Pontin and Alan Jarvis have taken legal action against the Football Association of Wales [FAW] and other football authorities over brain injuries allegedly suffered during their careers. Pontin, a former Cardiff City defender who played twice for Wales, passed away at the age of 64 in 2020, a year after Jarvis, who earned three Wales caps during his career at Hull City.
An inquest in 2022 revealed that Pontin had died of dementia due to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy [CTE], a progressive brain condition believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head. Jarvis, on the other hand, was diagnosed with an unknown form of dementia and spent his later years in a care home in North Wales. His family donated his brain to medical research at the University of Glasgow, with coroners concluding that he died from Alzheimer’s “caused by his occupation.”
The group of families and ex-players, including representatives of Joe Kinnear, have accused various football authorities of failing to protect players from permanent damage caused by repeated concussive blows. The claimants allege that the organizations did not take reasonable action to reduce the risk to players, resulting in “permanent long-term neurological injuries.”
The Football Association and the FAW have stated that they are engaged in the litigation process and take player safety seriously. Solicitors for the players have submitted over 8,000 pages of medical records and documents related to the case, highlighting the scale of the issue.
Richard Boardman, representing the former footballers in the ongoing litigation, emphasized the importance of seeking justice for those who were not protected from sustaining brain damage. The willingness of active footballers to speak out on this issue, such as Manchester United’s Raphael Varane, is crucial in raising awareness of the life-changing impact of brain injuries in football.