Kevin Doyle brings heading worries into focus

One of the attributes which made Kevin Doyle such an effective striker throughout his career – the Wexford man’s renowned spring heel leap and powerful heading ability – will now be in the spotlight for very different reasons after the Ireland international cited concussion and headaches caused by heading the ball as the reasons for his enforced retirement at the age of 34.

“This year it has been clear to me that heading the ball was becoming problematic, and causing me to have repeated headaches,” he said on Thursday. “Two concussions this season and numerous others over the years have made this more concerning.”

That a high profile player has felt the need to retire from the game in such circumstances is bound to add fresh urgency to the debate about the potential long-term consequences of repetitive heading of the ball, a concern which has already seen authorities in the US — where Doyle finished his career playing for Colorado Rapids in the MLS — ban heading for children aged 10 and under and limit heading for children aged 11 to 13 to 30 minutes per week.