Former footballer wins landmark brain injury case

Former Sunderland footballer David Watson has won a key appeal to have his neurological condition recognised as work-related.

Watson, 79, who helped Sunderland win the 1973 FA Cup, is living with probable Alzheimer’s and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) — a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts.

The Upper Tribunal has overturned a previous ruling from the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) that upheld the Department for Work and Pensions’ decision not to award him industrial injury benefits.

The ruling could set an important precedent for other former players seeking recognition and compensation for brain conditions.

Watson’s wife, Penny, said: “David gave everything to football, and he has paid a heavy price.

“We are relieved that the court has recognised that his injuries must be taken seriously and that his case deserves a proper hearing.

“This is not just about David, it is about all the players and families who are living with the consequences of head injuries.”

Watson’s case will now return to the FTT for reconsideration under the correct legal framework.

The former England captain, who also played for Manchester City and Southampton, suffered 10 documented head injuries during his career, along with numerous other collisions during matches and training.

The FTT had initially dismissed his appeal, saying it was not satisfied that these incidents directly caused his loss of faculty — the legal term for physical or mental impairment. It concluded that playing football over many years would likely have led to the same neurological decline regardless.

However, on 1 October, the Upper Tribunal ruled that the effect of multiple undocumented incidents must also be taken into account when assessing whether an injury qualifies for benefits.

Ryan Bradshaw, Watson’s representative, said: “This judgment is an important step forward.”