Football news, Paul Wade reveals CTE diagnosis, former Socceroos captain

Socceroos legend Paul Wade has revealed he’s been diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The 64-year-old, who captained Australia’s national men’s team and played 84 games in the coveted strip, released a statement through the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) on Wednesday.

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“Football gave me so much. It gave me a life, a career, incredible experiences and the privilege of representing Australia,” he said.

“But I also must be honest about the challenges I now face and the uncertainty that comes with living with a neurodegenerative condition.

“Receiving a diagnosis of probable CTE has been difficult. But I have decided to speak publicly because I know there may be other players and families facing similar questions.

“If sharing my experience can help someone seek support, create better education and prevention, or help the game take brain health more seriously, then it is worth doing.

“I do not want to discourage anyone from playing football, as I think there are so many positive health benefits. But we do need to understand more about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts and make sure that players, families and the game have the information and support they need to protect future generations.”

CTE can’t be properly diagnosed until a post-mortem is conducted but doctors can deliver a probable diagnosis while a patient is still alive.

Wade, who played 345 games in Australia’s National Soccer League and captained the Socceroos 46 times between 1990 and 1996, was known for his ability to head the ball, and he did so frequently throughout games.

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While he didn’t suffer any notable concussions and can’t point to a single moment that could have caused brain damage, doctors say CTE can be caused by frequent impacts to the head over a period of time.

Still, his neurologist Dr Rowena Mobbs is calling on headers to be banned in junior football in Australia, as they are in England for players under 12 years of age. England also has limitations on headers during training.

“Ultimately, it’s about being positive and progressive in football. As a neurologist, I call for a reduction in heading for players, including removing all heading under 12,” she said via the PFA.

“We want kids entering the great sport of football today to be their brain best both on the field and throughout life. You only get one brain.”

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Dr Mobbs has told Wade he will eventually die as a result of the CTE, if not beforehand from something else.

“When the neurologist said, ‘It’s terminal. Go and make some memories,’ that’s when reality kicks in,” Wade said via The Sydney Morning Herald.

“All my mates have been going, ‘Yeah, but we’re all terminal, Wadey.’ But I’ll never forget those words when she said them, that it’s terminal.

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“I’m gonna die of this. I might not die for 20 years, I might get hit by a bus, but there is no cure. And that was the moment I thought, people have got to understand … you don’t have to have a concussion to have CTE.”

Wade’s former Socceroos teammate Craig Foster paid tribute on social media.

“We need to understand the exact risks across all ball and impact sports to ensure that future generations are protected, and completely safe,” Foster wrote.

“Typical of Paul, still showing leadership, as he always did. Wanting to ensure that the game he loves, and that loves him, is completely safe.”

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