In his appeal to ban the practice of children’s football going to the head, the former French defender Raphael Varane announced quite firmly that the repeated impacts of the heads of young brains are dangerous for health.
In his talk with RMC Sport, the 2018 World Cup winner referred to the youth heading drills as “pointless” and “extremely dangerous” at the same time, emphasizing that the brain of a young person is a very fragile organ.
Varane went on to say that the kids’ brain is still growing and that the young footballers should be protected. As a way of reducing the risks during matches and trainings, he also suggested that the introduction of a compulsory head guard, like the shin guard, be made.
Varane, who used to be celebrated for his ability in the air at Real Madrid and Manchester United, brought attention to the potential risks of repetition of the long term, including concussion and cognitive decline. “Pain can be part of sport, but not at the cost of long-term health,” he added.
An expert panel as also show that for Varane’s views is correct and Valid. Matthias Pawlowski, MD, a neurologist at Münster University Hospital, in 2024 warned that frequent heading can cause increase in risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
While the DFB is still yet to apply any sort of ban, it advises that heading training should only begin after the age of 13.
