A preliminary hearing for a group of former footballers taking legal action over brain injuries allegedly suffered during their careers has reached the High Court.

The family of England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles are one of 19 claimants as part of the case against the footballing bodies.

Former Manchester United midfielder Stiles died in October 2020 aged 78. A post-mortem found his brain was affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a form of dementia believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

Lawyers representing more than a dozen players in the case appeared in court on Tuesday in London.

At the hearing, the court heard up to 75 players could eventually be involved in the legal action.

A further hearing in the cases is expected this year.

The hearing follows that of approximately 320 rugby union players and 160 rugby league players who are suing authorities the Rugby Football Union (RFU), World Rugby and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) over brain injuries.

They allege the governing bodies failed to put in place reasonable measures to protect their health and safety.