Football legend Paul Wade has revealed he may have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The 64-year-old, who captained the Australian men’s team and played 84 games in that coveted streak, released a statement through the Professional Footballers’ Association of Australia (PFA) on Wednesday.
Paul Wade of the Socceroos in action during the 1993 FIFA World Cup preliminary match between Australia and Argentina. Getty Images
“Football has given me so much. It has given me a life, a career, an incredible experience and the honor of representing Australia,” he said.
“But I also have to be honest about the challenges I’m currently facing and the uncertainty that comes with living with a neurodegenerative disease.
“Receiving a diagnosis of probable CTE was difficult. But I decided to speak out publicly because I know there may be other players and families facing similar questions.”
“If sharing my experience can help someone find support, improve education and prevention, or help the game take brain health more seriously, then it’s worth it.
“I don’t want to discourage anyone from playing football as I think there are many positive health benefits. But we need to understand more about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts and make sure players, families and the game have the information and support they need to protect future generations.”
CTE cannot be properly diagnosed until an autopsy is performed, but doctors can make a probable diagnosis while the patient is still alive.
Wade, who played 345 games in the Australian National Football League and captained the Socceroos 46 times between 1990 and 1996, was renowned for his ability to head the ball, and he did so frequently during games.
While he hasn’t had any noticeable concussions and can’t point to any one moment that might have caused the brain damage, doctors say CTE can be caused by repeated blows to the head over a period of time.
However, his neurologist Dr Rowena Mobbs is calling for headlines to be banned in youth football in Australia, as in England for under-12 players. England also has restrictions on head impacts during training.
“Ultimately it is about a positive and progressive approach to football. As a neuroscientist, I am calling for a reduction in the number of caps for players, including the removal of all under-12 caps,” she said via the PFA.
“We want the kids who play the great sport of football today to have the best brains, both on the field and throughout their lives. You only have one brain.”
Paul Wade was diagnosed with probable CTE. Walter Peters
Dr. Mobbs told Wade that he would eventually die as a result of CTE, if not from something else beforehand.
“When the neurologist said, ‘This is incurable. Go and make some memories,’ that’s when reality sets in,” Wade said, via The Sydney Morning Herald.
“All my buddies were like, ‘Yeah, but we’re all deadly, Wadey.’ But I will never forget those words when she said them, that this is fatal.
“I’m going to die from this. I might not die for 20 years, I might get hit by a bus, but there’s no cure. And at that point I thought, people need to understand… you don’t have to have a concussion to get CTE.”
Wade’s former Socceroos teammate Craig Foster paid tribute on social media.
“We need to understand the precise risks in all ball and hitting sports to ensure the protection and overall safety of future generations,” Foster wrote.
“Typical of Paul, who continues to show leadership as he always has. Wanting to make sure the game he loves, and that loves him, is safe and secure.”