Any England or Belgium player who gets himself deliberately booked to secure an easier path for his country at the World Cup will be banned for the next match, it emerged on Monday.

Should there be proof either side have tried to engineer their disciplinary records during Thursday’s game in order to finish second in Group G, Fifa is poised to act.

England’s 6-1 thrashing of Panama on Sunday drew them level with Belgium on points, goal difference and goals scored – the pair are only separated by Gareth Southgate’s men picking up one fewer yellow card.

Finishing top of Group G would bring a possible quarter-final against Brazil or Germany, while the runner-up would potentially go on to face Mexico or Switzerland.

Although there is no suggestion England or Belgium would try to do anything other than win Thursday’s game, players earning deliberate yellow cards in order to help their team is not without precedent.

David Beckham escaped punishment after admitting doing so playing for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Wales in 2004 in order to serve a suspension while he was injured.