last year, one of those studies, co—funded by the football association and the players‘ union, the pfa thought that would have been enough for the world of football, for the global game of football to wrap its arms around the game, and say this is something we need to deal with seriously now. this is something we need to put more effort into research and try to mitigate against future problems, and none of that has happened. the findings are compelling but not yet conclusive. that's why a number of studies are ongoing, helped by former pros, like mark bright. i've headed a lot of footballs, you know, 14—year career, practised every day after training, heading, finishing, heading. and so ijust know, i thought, i'm in this circle somewhere. research like this will take years. in february, the fa banned under—11s from heading the ball. but with women at double the risk from concussion, families are imploring the sport to move quicker. he's not part of this world any more, he's gone, he's completely gone, but he is physically stood right in front of you. eight years ago, gary's dad, chris

the pfa are calling for a reduction of heading in training to better protect current players followings surrounding dementia in football. they've called on a game wide strategy to address the growing link between footballers who suffer with the condition and have called on heading in training at all levels to be monitored. the pfa hve faced criticsim from families of former players for their lack of support. lam i am amazed at the likes of nike or adidas having not come up with a heading training bill. we don't want a balloon, we need a ball which is the same sort of weight but it would be something that we could still practise heading. i'm not too sure it is the game time heading the ball is the problem, is probably more to do with the training and that is why lam do with the training and that is why i am advocating that we get a ball, a training ball which could be used for heading practice. meanwhile the fa have warned former players might lack the experience to replace greg clarke as chair of the organisation following his resignation. clarke stepped down last week after using offe

after 40 yea rs in season as chief executive of the pfa after 40 years in the role.the year is due to start on the 18th january, but with players unable to enter the state of victoria until the first of the month, and then having to quarantine for two weeks — that would affect warm up events and the players‘ ability to train and prepare. andy murray is going to take part and can see the benefits of shifting the tournament to later in the month. a lot of the players are coming from, you know, very cold climates just now. to then go and ask, you know, you know, players to go and play in 35, 36 degree heat with no match preparation, itjust increases the risk of, you know, injuries, possibly the quality of tennis probably not going to be that high, so, yeah, it wouldn't be a deal breakerfor me, it makes it a little bit tougher. that's all the sport for now. i will be back with more in the next hour. more now on the spending review. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has said he expects a million more people to be unemployed by the middle of next year. 1.6 million people are cu

last year, one of those studies, co—funded by the football association and the players' union, the pfaootballers were two to five times more likely to die of a degenerative brain condition. i thought that would have been enough for the world of football, for the global game of football to wrap its arms around the game, and say this is something we need to deal with seriously now. this is something we need to put more effort into research and try to mitigate against future problems, and none of that has happened. the findings are compelling but not yet conclusive. that's why a number of studies are ongoing, helped by former pros, like mark bright. i've headed a lot of footballs, you know, 1a—year career, practised every day after training, heading, finishing, heading. and so ijust know, i thought, i'm in this circle somewhere. research like this will take years. in february, the fa banned under—11s from heading the ball. but with women at double the risk from concussion, families are imploring the sport to move quicker. he's not part of this world any more, he's gone, he's completely go

what is your re—let reaction to the pfa's call for a reduction in the pfa's call for a reduction in theve and welcome. while the debate may rage on about the direct link to heading, i think the advance probabilities, heading is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently and this appears to be a good move. what did your research find? i quoted that the likelihood. what was causing that increased risk? could it be very specifically tied to heading, or related more generally to football? i think that is important to point out. the research that we have done to this date is really trying to point to add a link between former and disease is dementia. this was reallyjust to a nswer dementia. this was reallyjust to answer the question was there a problem. it did not go into what might be that problem. there is plenty other research we have done into looking at the brains of former footballers and it could be linked to head injury. it has taken that evidence in total, but this suggests we need to be thinking about head injuries and had impact in football. this may be a daft question but what

football to reduce the risk, including limiting heading in practice and for the players‘ union, the pfanot enough is being done and the players of nobby stiles' generation aren't getting looked after well enough. it's as simple as that, because it's notjust the dementia sufferer, it's actually the effect it has on the families. the research so far is compelling but not yet conclusive. the players' union says it's setting up a task force and is helping to fund more studies into the links between headers and concussion with dementia. this is no longer seen asjust an issue for players of the past. we saw how quickly football moves, when it needs to own it feels it needs to. for years and years we've been calling for the concussion studies to be produced into football. and we have just been pushed back and pushed back, and more research is needed and more delays. i just cannot more research is needed and more delays. ijust cannot understand add the kind of goes against the rhetoric we are hearing that they're taking this extremely seriously. it's clear more research is needed urgently. nata

what is your reaction to this move to the pfa? it had to start with the pfa, saying that the two long we have closed our eyes to what has been going on. a little story about how he drove into the village and walk home and forgot he had left his car. this is a player from my era, he talks about his headaches, his migraines, the suffering. what has been encouraging in the last few days has been the game, it is what this campaign has needed, the likes of sirjeff her, david beckham, frank lampard of chelsea talking about possibly changing the training techniques at chelsea because of the risk of dementia, and this isjust a really common sense step dementia, and this isjust a really common sense step to take, you know, in my opinion. we are not asking to ban heading. we are asking to reduce the heading in training, reduce the risk, and it is a big deal now to have the pfa on—site. risk, and it is a big deal now to have the pfa on-site. absolutely. as a former striker yourself, renowned for your heading ability, great goals you scored,

gary's dad, hull city ‘s goal—scorer was diagnosed with dementia and needs round—the—clock care and the pfad raise to pay for more and gary might have to sell his home. the it cannot be swept under the carpet any more and anything that comes off the back of it, whether that's comprehensive ca re of it, whether that's comprehensive care packages for players and their families, just to make sure that this has been recognised on that link has been made between the sport and this disease. football still has much to do. people living in social housing in england will have more protection and rights to demand things like improvements to their homes under new reforms in the wake of the grenfell fire tragedy in 2017. the government says the changes mean the voices of residents will never again go unheard. but questions remain over whether enough new social homes are being built — with more than 90,000 households currently living in temporary accommodation. our home editor, mark easton, has more. from the shock and grief of the grand full tower tragedy there came a painful realisation that for far t

the premier league added they contribute £23 million a year to the pfa to help charities and researchme in 16 years next 0ctober. they'll play two twenty20 matches having not toured the country since a terror attack in lahore on the sri lanka team. the two matches will take place in karachi and be preparation for the t20 world cup in india. england going to pakistan next 0ctoberfor england going to pakistan next october for the first time in 16 yea rs. the home nations are in action the nations league tonight. and will be hoping to fair better than germany who suffered their biggest competitive defeat in 89 years. they were thrashed 6—0 by spain. germany hadn't lost in over a year, but were swept aside in seville. manchester city's ferran torres scoring a hat—trick before mikel 0yarza bal here wrapped up the win. theyjoin france in the finals with two more places still up for grabs. rafael nadal produced some incredible tennis at the atp finals in london, but was still beaten by dominic thiem. the us open champion was pushed all the way by nadal — even having to go for a ‘tweener‘ her

in a statement that is scathing of the pfa, his son has called on the premier league, the fa and thepen is likely to be delayed by at least a week. the first tennis grand slam of the year is due to start on january 18, but with players unable to enter the state of victoria until the first of the month — and then having to quarantine for two weeks — that would affect warm—up events and the players' ability to train and prepare. andy murray is going to take part, and can see the benefits of shifting the tournament to later in the month. a lot of the players are coming from very cold climates are just now, so to then go and ask players to go and play in the 35, 30 6 degrees heat with no match preparation itjust increases the risks of injuries, possibly, the quality of tennis is probably not going to be that high. yeah, it wouldn't be a deal—breaker for me, it is obviously makes it a little bit tougher. england's natalie sciver played a starring role for the melbourne stars as they booked their place in the t20 big bash final for the first time. sciver top scored in their match against p

he knows, notjust him, the fa, the premier league, the pfa, kick it 0ut, they all know the door is openonight. you can watch anton ferdinand: football, racism and me, tonight on bbc one at 9pm. a six—year—old boy with brittle bones who captured the hearts of tv viewers when he shared his dreams ofjoining a space mission has received a special invitation from nasa. adam king appeared on the late, late toy show, a special christmas edition of ireland's longest—running tv programme, and since making his debut his profile has rocketed. let's take a look. # rocket man... hello! eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... lift off! we have lift off! it's been a very, very emotional and overwhelming and humbling 40 hours in our lives. contact from people outstanding in their field, in our lives. contact from people outstanding in theirfield, in in our lives. contact from people outstanding in their field, in the world, in terms of space travel. out of the world! out of the world, yeah! it's a bumpy landing. it's a bumpy landing. i was proud adam was on it.” thought he was really good. it

football to reduce the risk, including limiting heading in practice and for the players‘ union, the pfas compelling but not yet conclusive. the players‘ union says it‘s setting up a task force and is helping to fund more studies into the links between headers and concussion with dementia. this is no longer seen asjust an issue for players of the past. natalie pirks, bbc news. now it‘s time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. good afternoon. we had some early sunshine in eastern sunshine following the rain in the west but it is quite turbulent if you are out and about. a band of quite heavy rain pushing eastwards at the moment on blustery wind. the wind from the south—west means it is still relatively mild, particularly so in the south but it is all change, temperatures dropping in the way in the north and behind this next weather front, we change the wind direction to a blast of northerly so the risk of snow is there through the risk of snow is there through the night across the scottish hills, and asa the night across the scottish hills, and as a result, temperatures will be

in the next hour, we'll hear from a doctor who carried out a study commissioned by the fa and pfa.s of england. football leaders held talks with the government yesterday with the return of supporters one of the things discussed. we understand prime minister boris johnson has indicated privately to mps that reopening turnstiles as soon as possible is a personal priority for him, in areas where the rate of infections are sufficiently low. rafael nadal produced some incredible tennis, but was still beaten by dominic thiem at the atp finals in london. the us open champion won what was a brilliant match by two sets to love, but needed tie—breaks in both. nadal can still make the semi—finals having won one, and lost one so far. to get there he'll need to beat stefanos tsitsipas tomorrow in a winner—takes—all match. the defending champion beat andrey rublev two sets to one, which in turn confirmed thiem's place in the semi—finals. and, finally, it wasn't a good night for germany in the nations league. they suffered their biggest defeat in 89 years as they were thrashed 6—0 by spain in sev

last year, a study commissioned by the pfa and the fa, found former professional footballers are morell and the impact it has on the brain in future years. yes. it was very the brain in future years. yes. it was very moving, listening to chris and his story. i had been listening to stories like that for some years now. the one thing that keeps coming up now. the one thing that keeps coming up is, could it be linked to heading and head injuries in the game? having demonstrated last year without question there is a problem without question there is a problem with dementia and degenerative diseases in football, the evidence we have gathered over the years of the types of dementia we get and what it looks like down the microscope, in football, the link is heading. where someone has editable 30 times a day on consecutive days, there is something that happens inside the brain physically. what happens in terms of brain proteins all the stability that stuff in there? there are a number of good research studies over the years i people have got more interested in trying to figure out what was h