Dementia linked to football?

London — The English Football Association will ask FIFA to investigate whether former players have dementia as a consequence of brain damage from playing the game.

Three members of England's 1966 World Cup squad — Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson — have Alzheimer's, family members told Saturday's Daily Mirror newspaper.

Concerns have grown in Britain about the impact of head injuries after campaigning by the family of former England striker Jeff Astle, the former England striker whose death in 2002 was attributed to repeatedly heading heavy, leather balls.

English FA medical head Ian Beasley told The Associated Press on Saturday that he's going to ask FIFA, "Can you help us in trying to find out if dementia is more common in ex-professional footballers?"