Joe Kinnear's daughter says 'his football career killed him' as autopsy reveals the cause of his death at 77

Joe Kinnear's daughter has blamed his death on his football career.

An autopsy has confirmed that his brain had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder which is caused by repeated head injuries and leads to dementia. 

Kinnear, who made 258 appearances for Tottenham as a defender before going on to manage the likes of Wimbledon and Newcastle, died in April. The 77-year-old was diagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia in 2015. 

His family donated his brain for research and an autopsy was carried out by Dr Willie Stewart, consultant neuropathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. 

'Dr Stewart intimated to me that CTE was the cause of his dementia and his death,” Kinnear’s daughter, Russ Doffman, told BBC Sport.

'He was a defender, so it was from heading the ball.

'The autopsy] gives you closure, but thinking about it, we just feel angry again because I feel like his career has killed him.

'We learned a lot, but weren’t surprised by the outcome. It does give you clarity.'

The Kinnear family are part of a lawsuit being brought against football authorities for failing to take reasonable action to protect players from persistent injuries stemming from blows to the head.

Kinnear is just one of dozens of former players represented in the claim. 

In December 2020, the family of Nobby Stiles were told that the England World Cup winner’s dementia was caused by heading footballs.

In a brave move aimed at assisting research and finding answers, the 1966 legend’s wife Kay and three sons donated his brain to Willie Stewart’s FIELD study, which is examining links between the disease and the sport.

They long believed that Stiles’ dementia was due to head trauma inflicted during a glittering career which also saw him lift the European Cup with Manchester United. In an emotional Zoom call with Dr Stewart, their fears were confirmed.

Even by then, Dr Stewart's groundbreaking study has already found that ex-players are three and a half times more likely to die of a neurodegenerative disease than the general public. 

In May, the FA revealed that they are permanently banning heading at under-11s level and below to 'improve the safety' of football. 

Following a successful two-year trial period, the governing body announced that heading for primary school-age children will be phased out over the next three seasons.

The ban will apply to all affiliated leagues and school matches, with heading to be allowed again in games at U-12s level, when children are at secondary school.

Headway, the brain injury charity, praised the FA for implementing a ban.

‘This is a sensible and pragmatic step that prioritises the health and wellbeing of young players,’ said chief executive Luke Griggs.

‘Repetitive heading of the ball is increasingly being linked to an increased risk of developing degenerative neurological conditions in later life and this decision reflects a growing awareness of the need to protect young players from potential harm.'