Aleksander Ceferin will consider a ban on heading in youth football if a Uefa study shows it causes brain damage.

The organisation’s president promised it would be “strict” in its response should research it commissioned last year find evidence linking playing the game to dementia in later life.

Uefa became the first major governing body to investigate the impact of heading on children following a Telegraph Sport campaign inspired by the plight of former footballers suffering degenerative brain disease, including several members of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team.

The current study, in which one Premier League club is taking part, aims to count the number of times youth players head the ball, with the data made available for research into the effects on the brain.

In the United States, children under 11 have been banned from heading since 2016, while the Professional Footballers’ Association last year called for England to follow suit.

Asked if Uefa would consider such a ban if its study showed there was a risk of harm, Ceferin said: “We need to take this seriously, of course. If it shows clearly that there is damage, especially for children, we have to be strict.

“This thing is very important and I’m curious what this will bring us. When you see some other sports, it’s scary what can happen, in boxing or even MMA [mixed martial arts]. It’s a problem of many sports, including football. So, I’m looking forward to see this analysis.”