New rules are to be put in place to prevent players suffering a possible concussion after an accident on the pitch from continuing to play, European football's governing body UEFA decided Thursday.
"New procedures will be implemented with immediate effect in all our competitions," UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino announced after a meeting of the organisation's executive committee in Nyon, Switzerland.
"If there is a concussion incident, the referee can stop the game for up to three minutes to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor and the player will only be allowed to continue playing on the specific confirmation of the team doctor to the referee that the player is fit to continue playing."
The world football governing body FIFA was expected to decide similar measures at a meeting next week, Infantino added.
"So we are on the same side on this when it comes to the health of players."
There have been calls for sporting bodies to take action after a number of cases last season and at the World Cup in Brazil when players continued to play after taking heavy blows to the head.
The English Football Association (FA) announced new rules last month which include the compulsory substitution of any player suspected of having lost consciousness during a Premier League game.
A group of American parents is also suing FIFA to force it to limit the number of times young soccer players can head the ball.
The class action suit, filed in California, also names as defendants the United States Soccer Federation and the US Youth Soccer Association.
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