World football’s governing body, FIFA has told the 32 participating teams that video replays will be used by their respective doctors to help in the diagnosis of injuries, including concussions, at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

According to FIFA’s top medical official, a second team doctor will have access to match footage in a bid to evaluate in real time to support any on-field diagnosis.

The latest development is a clear indication that FIFA has decided to fully embrace the use of technology in football, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology also expected to be employed at the tournament for the first time.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 15.

FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe has already briefed all the 32 World Cup teams in Russia on the aforementioned changes at meetings in the Black Sea Resort of Sochi.

In his chat with AP on the latest development, D’Hooghe said: “To help the doctor we have now introduced a system whereby an assistant of the doctor or a second doctor will sit in front of a television screen and can help the doctor in taking his decision.”

“because he can review very clearly, very concretely what happened on the field, what the doctor sitting on the bench perhaps could not see.

“This is a supplementary help for the doctor to make his diagnosis and to say if (the player) can go on. This is the first time that we will try it. I am confident that it will certainly be a help for the medical care of our players.” he concluded.