The world-renowned physician who uncovered a health scandal in American football has today warned that association football cannot survive as the world’s most popular sport if it fails to address the dangers of catastrophic brain injury among its players.

Bennet Omalu, who first identified Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in NFL players and inspired a Hollywood film, is convinced that scores of British footballers are also suffering from the devastating disease.

Now, in an exclusive interview on the eve of the new Premier League season, Omalu – who was played by Will Smith in the 2015 blockbuster Concussion – is calling for the most comprehensive overhaul ever of the rules governing youth football.

The Telegraph launched a campaign last year for research into the prevalence of dementia among former footballers and, although the FA and PFA have since pledged to fund what they promise will be a definitive study, the results are still years away.

The family of Jeff Astle, the former England striker, whose death in 2002 was caused by CTE, have been contacted by more than 300 families of former players with similar symptoms, but believe the authorities have swept what they call “sport’s silent scandal” under the carpet.