The decision to allow footballers to return to play after they suffer a concussion should only be made by doctors, experts have said.

Cerebral concussion is the most common type of sport-related traumatic brain injury. According to the editors of the medical journal, The Lancet Neurology, repeated concussions can lead to a range of neurological disorders, including dementia.

Furthermore, even if the symptoms of concussion do not appear immediately, or come and go quickly, neurological damage can still occur, sometimes without being detected.

They pointed to the case of Uruguyan defender, Álvaro Pereira, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He had taken a knee to the head during Uruguay's 2-1 victory over England last month. However, despite falling unconscious for a short time, he overruled the advice of doctors to be substituted and was allowed to return to the match.

The editors insisted that the only people who should be allowed to make the decision about whether someone can return to play are healthcare professionals.

The decision ‘should surely be taken out of the hands of those with a vested interest in the player's performance', they said.

"Many sporting organisations now acknowledge the potentially serious consequences of mild traumatic brain injury and have drawn up new protocols to protect athletes who sustain a head injury. However FIFPro, the world players' union, has called for an investigation of concussion protocols and return-to-play standards following Pereira's injury," the editors added.

Their comments are published in an editorial in The Lancet Neurology.