Managers who attempt to interfere with the treatment of players by team doctors should face disciplinary action and sanctions in the future, according to the Football Association's independent board member Heather Rabbatts.
Speaking in the wake of the case of former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro, who has parted company with the club after being criticised by Jose Mourinho and dropped from first-team duties, Rabbatts said the FA needed to look at all the issues that had been raised.
Rabbatts, speaking at the Leaders in Sport Business Summit in London, said: "The issue of safeguarding players is clearly vitally important and I think there are a number of concerns out there shared by Premier League doctors and medical practitioners.
"It may well be we need to think about more effective sanctions if protocols currently in place are breached, and that maybe it should be a disciplinary offence if there is interference between the players and the medical staff.
"We need to think how we can all be better across the game when incidents like this happen, and I hope we will see Eva back in the game."
Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn were criticised by Mourinho for going onto the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in Chelsea's opening match of the season - as he then had to leave the pitch it left Chelsea temporarily down to nine men.
She is expected to take legal action against the club for constructive dismissal.
Rabbatts, the head of the FA's inclusion advisory board, has been fiercely critical of the FA's handling of the case.
Source: PA
