BREAKING | Manchester United's Gordon McQueen, with support from Kevin Moran, is chased by Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish and Ronnie Whelan during the 1983 Milk Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester United’s Gordon McQueen, with support from Kevin Moran, is chased by Liverpool’s Kenny Dalglish and Ronnie Whelan during the 1983 Milk Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Heading a football “likely” contributed to the brain injury which was a factor in the death of former Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, a coroner has found.

McQueen – who was capped for Scotland 30 times between 1974 and 1981, and played for both Manchester United and Leeds United during a 16-year career – died at his home in North Yorkshire in June 2023, aged 70.

The cause of death was pneumonia as he had become frail and bed-bound for months, the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, heard earlier this month.

Hayley McQueen attending the funeral service of her father

Hayley McQueen attending the funeral service of her father

That frailty was due to a combination of vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), coroner Jon Heath said.

The coroner gave a narrative conclusion on Monday, finding that Mr McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and CTE.

He said: “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.”