Overview
- Northallerton coroner Jon Heath issued a narrative conclusion that McQueen died of pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
- Professor Willie Stewart’s examination of McQueen’s donated brain found CTE and vascular dementia, and he said the defender’s high exposure to heading contributed to the disease.
- Statements from former teammates described daily drills with repeated headers, noting that training far exceeded match heading.
- McQueen’s family called for stronger protections, education and potential legislation, with his daughters also criticizing the PFA’s support during his illness.
- The FA pointed to heading guidance and updated concussion protocols, while the PFA urged a collective response, is lobbying for industrial disease recognition and trials of temporary concussion substitutes, and youth heading limits are being extended to under-11 matches in 2026–27.