Vertonghen was treated by Hughes, the first-team doctor, and the club’s other medics and returned to action

The head of Fifa’s medical committee says it is prepared to discuss introducing concussion substitutions in the light of the head injury sustained by Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertonghen against Ajax, but is opposed to independent doctors taking over from club medics in determining whether players are fit to return to the pitch.

Tottenham defended the actions of their medical staff in allowing Vertonghen to return to the field in their Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat, only to collapse and stagger off again after 40 seconds. The club yesterday reported that the Belgium defender showed no ill-effects and did not lose consciousness during the game on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old will be assessed again by an independent neurologist today and will not be available for Tottenham’s Premier