Repeated heading of a football could be causing damage to footballers" brains, according to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The LA Times reported that the study examined the brain scans of twelve players from Germany and found there was a pattern of damage to the brains which had a strong resemblence to the brains scans of patients with mild brain trauma injuries.The research team also examined the brains of eleven swimmers, as a control group, and found those brains to be far less damaged.

Although the source of the injuries is, as of now, unlcear it is suspected by the researchers involved in the project that heading the ball may have a significant role to play in the accumulation of injury during a players" career. It is believed that although the levels of concussion in football are far lower than other sports, scuh as American football or cycling, the impact suffered through heading the ball can cause permanent damage.

The American Youth Soccer Organization has experimeneted in the past with players wearing helmets to protect them while playing, although there are currently no plans to implement this as a solution.