A coroner has ordered a full inquest into the death of England 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles after an investigation found that he died from a traumatic brain injury. The former Manchester United midfielder was found to have suffered from high-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and his family believe his death was caused by heading the ball. The ruling adds to growing concern over the long-term neurological toll of football on former players.

Stiles died in a care home in Urmston, Greater Manchester, in October 2020 at the age of 78. A preliminary inquest was told that his family's subsequent investigations identified three causes of death: Alzheimer's, CTE and limbic-predominant age-related encephalopathy (LATE). Coroner Chris Morris, noting the "traumatic element" in the cause of death, opened and adjourned a full inquest to be held on 15 July at South Manchester Coroners Court in Stockport. The case echoes that of former Scotland and Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen, who also died after suffering from the same brain injury.