Thibaut Courtois appeared to be knocked out inadvertently by the legs of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez when both players went for the ball early in the first half of the London derby. The goalkeeper appeared to lose consciousness but was allowed to play on after being assessed by Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro within a minute.

However, within 13 minutes, he started bleeding from the ear and had to be substituted and was subsequently sent to the hospital. The Blues have come under increasing pressure over their decision to allow the Belgian to carry on despite suffering a heavy blow to the head, which ultimately resulted in a mild concussion.

New FA rules suggest that a player should be substituted from the field of play if there is a confirmed or suspected period of loss of consciousness. However, Blues boss Jose Mourinho claimed that the club had followed the correct procedure over Courtois’ injury, as the Telegraph reported.

On being asked on the condition of Courtois, he said, “Hospital tests. Precaution. We think nothing to be worried about it. On the bench I don’t communicate with the doctors. I just get decisions. The club doctor or medical department should take control and responsibility. They said yes at first, then after that no.”