Former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason is to take part in a Government-led summit to discuss the impact of head injuries in sport next week
The culture secretary, Oliver Downden, is to host the panel alongside sports minister Nigel Huddleston, amid growing concerns about the long-term impacts of head injuries after a number of high-profile deaths and diagnoses linked to dementia.
Mason was forced to retire from football at the age of just 26 after suffering a fractured skull while playing in a match for Hull City against Chelsea in 2017.
He will be joined on the panel by another former Spurs man, Les Ferdinand, as well as ex-England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and Dawn Astle, who has campaigned extensively on the subject following the death of her father, former England international Jeff Astle, from a brain disease aged 59.
England rugby scrum-half Matt Dawson will also take part. Dawson’s former teammate Steve Thompson has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and says he cannot remember the 2003 World Cup final win over Australia which the pair played in.
Dowden said: "The safety and wellbeing of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount.
"I am worried that this could become a looming problem for British sport, so it's right we come together, look at the evidence and processes we have and agree a way forward to protect the stars of today and tomorrow.
"Everyone involved has a love for their sport and I hope by convening this forum we can work collaboratively on this important issue."
