Football and rugby facing flood of claims over head injuries warning

Neuropathologist Willie Stewart says there is clear evidence between the sports and degenerative brain condition CTE

• Sport and dementia: Something needs to happen now'

A leading expert on concussion and sport has warned that professional football and rugby will face huge litigation claims in the future if the games' authorities do not take urgent action to combat brain injuries.

Dr Willie Stewart, consultant neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital, Glasgow, led the Field study research, which revealed last year that footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population.