A new study has raised concerns over the treatment of head injuries in English football after it was found that Premier League players missed significantly fewer games following a concussion than their counterparts in Major League Soccer.

The research, which was published this week in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, relates to a 10-year comparison of the incidence of sports-related concussions in the two leagues between 2008 and 2017.

The study also analyses player performance following a concussion and reported that Premier League players suffered a marked dip in performance after suffering a concussion compared to those MLS players who were more likely to have been rested for longer.

MLS players were found to have missed an average 7.3 games after a concussion (37 days) compared to an average 0.6 games (10.9 days missed) for Premier League players. Statistical performance in relation to games started, assists, shots on goal, and total shots after concussion was reduced in all outfield positions for players in the Premier League. For the MLS players, there were no significant decreases in performance.

Although long-term career longevity was not found to be affected, the study concludes that the MLS approach “may better promote player safety and preserve on-field performance”.