# Coroner Rules Heading Footballs Caused Nobby Stiles' Brain Disease

A coroner has ruled that former England footballer Nobby Stiles died from a brain condition caused by repeatedly heading footballs. The 1966 World Cup winner suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The ruling reignites concerns about the long-term risks of heading in professional football.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/15/nobby-stiles-died-with-brain-condition-caused-by-repeatedly-heading-a-football-coroner-rules) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:43:56 GMT

### Sports
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzyygmxvgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:15:17 GMT