A survey conducted by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has uncovered that 60% of professional footballers who identify with neurodivergent traits have not disclosed them to their clubs. The preliminary results indicated that 5% of surveyed players have a diagnosed neurodivergent condition, while a quarter report various traits. Notably, attention and social interaction challenges are common among respondents. Autistic footballer Safia Middleton-Patel emphasized the importance of understanding from clubs, sharing her experiences with acceptance and communication since her diagnosis. The NHS estimates that one in seven people in the UK is neurodivergent, yet formal diagnoses remain unclear.
"I know what it's like to be dropped from a club because they say you're too argumentative and you're too difficult and we can't handle you."
"I'm delighted by the role the PFA is playing in creating greater understanding, something I did not always experience in the past."
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