Fixture congestion, brain health & cyber threats high on FA priority list

English football’s governing body also cited risks relating to brain health and the the threat of cyber attacks as ‘high-priority’ areas it has to face.

There are rules across England, Scotland and Wales restricting heading in children’s games, while different limits are in place around training in the English and Scottish professional games.

In 2019, the ‘Field’ study, funded by the FA and Professional Footballers’ Association, found that footballers were 3.5 times more likely than those in the general population to suffer from neurodegenerative disorders.

It was the largest study to date looking at the effects of heading footballs.

Since then, the FA has brought in a phased ban of heading in under-11s football and says it is investing in objective and robust research to get a better understanding of a “complex” issue as risks are “still unknown”.

It is also looking to be vigilant away from the pitch, warning that a successful attack on its computer systems could lead to “significant financial, legislative, and reputational impact if any FA data is compromised, or events disrupted”.

Concerns about such potential threats have led the FA to implement “several protections”, including educating its own staff. It says it is now equipped to fend off “malicious traffic at our network perimeter”, meaning attackers would not have the opportunity to access private files.

The achievements of the England women’s team – the Lionesses – and the men’s under-21 side, who both won their respective European Championships in 2025, are celebrated in the report.

Steps to develop the grassroots game through better infrastructure and behaviour with a £158m investment into the game, an increase of £12m from 2023-24, was also highlighted.

There was also the expansion of a referee bodycam trial which began 12 months previously in adult grassroots football, having been granted permission by the International Football Association Board [IFAB], which oversees the laws of the game.

However, the FA said its operating profit decreased by £58m to £6m over the same period.

It also stated that discriminatory and anti-social behaviour was still hindering “efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment for all to enjoy the game”.