A Greater Manchester coroner has ruled that an inquest must be held into the 2020 death of England 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles. The court heard Stiles, 78, suffered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated heading of footballs. Area Coroner Chris Morris said a neuropathology report by Dr Daniel du Plessis confirmed the diagnosis and that the death had not been reported to the coroner’s office at the time.

Stiles' family, led by his son John Stiles, head of the Football Families for Justice, have long called on the FA, FAW and EFL to improve support for former players with neuro‑degenerative conditions. The case joins dozens of lawsuits alleging the governing bodies breached their duty of care, despite a 2019 FA‑PFA study showing former professionals are 3.5 times more likely to die from such diseases. Recent rulings, including a January inquest into former defender Gordon McQueen, have reinforced the link between heading and brain injury, prompting the FA to phase out heading in youth football up to under‑11s by 2026.

The upcoming inquest will test how far football authorities must be held accountable for historical health risks.