Como bans heading for youngest academy players

Italian Serie A club Como announced a ban on heading for academy players below under-11 level after consultation with board member Raphael Varane, the former France defender.

The club said heading will be banned in training and matches for its under-8, under-9 and under-10 teams. Throw-ins will be replaced by passes along the ground with players' feet.

Varane retired in 2024 after a career with France, Real Madrid and Manchester United. He finished his playing career with Como and had suffered head injuries during his career. In a video posted by Como on Friday, Varane said he had two serious concussions at age 16 and became aware of the risks. He said he later learned from medical professionals about the effects of concussion.

Como's head of player and coaches' development said it was important to delay the amount of heading and impact while young players are developing. He said introducing heading gradually over a number of years could help protect players.

The source says governing bodies in Europe have introduced similar rules because of concern about brain development. England's Football Association is phasing out all heading in youth football up to under-11 level, and heading is prohibited in France until under-10.

Earlier this month, a court ruled that England 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football. Expert analysis of his brain found that his severe dementia resulted from Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a condition associated with head trauma from heading a ball.

The source also notes that other contact sports, including American football and rugby union, have been linked with brain injuries for decades.