FIFA has joined the chorus of disapproval at Morocco's "questionable handling" of Nordin Amrabat following his concussion in the team's first World Cup game against Iran last week.
The Watford winger, who was on loan in Spain last season, played in Morocco's second Group B match against Portugal on Wednesday, only five days after that head injury.
Speaking after his side's second 1-0 defeat of the tournament, Morocco coach Herve Renard defended the decision to play Amrabat, describing him as "a warrior" who "wanted to play".
This was strongly criticised by brain injury experts, though, who pointed out that Amrabat should have taken at least a week off, as per FIFA's "return to play" guidelines.
World players' union FIFPro described the incident as "another alarming example of a player being put in harm's way", while British brain injury charity Headway said it "set an appalling example for the millions of fans and players around the world".
Headway chief executive Peter McCabe also said the rugby-style scrum cap Amrabat was wearing at the start of the game gave a "false impression" of safety, and the fact he took it off after 15 minutes made no difference to the risk he was taking with his own health.
FIFA was clearly unimpressed, too, and said it had given all team doctors the latest information and treatment guidelines for concussions in a pre-tournament workshop.
A spokesperson said: "Following the questionable handling of the concussion incident involving Amrabat during the Morocco-Iran match, FIFA wrote to the Moroccan team doctor to remind him of the importance to adhere to the guidelines that have been communicated.
"While the assessment and case management of concussion incidents falls under the sole responsibility of the respective team doctors, FIFA will address this matter with the Moroccan FA and, speaking in general terms, FIFA will monitor closely this matter throughout the competition."
The controversy surrounding the 31-year-old's involvement in the game is not the only talking point after a hotly-contested encounter that Morocco were unlucky to lose.
Renard and his team were frequently unhappy with the decisions made by American referee Mark Geiger and the other officials, both on the pitch and in Moscow's central VAR room.
This frustration apparently boiled over at half-time when a member of the Morocco team claimed that Geiger asked Portugal's captain and goalscorer Ronaldo for his shirt.
In a statement published via social media, FIFA expressed its "regret and disappointment" that such an allegation has been reported, and said Geiger "strongly refutes these claims and categorically states that such a request was not made".
Backing Geiger, FIFA said it "unequivocally condemns the allegation supposedly made by a member of the Moroccan team" and praised the official for his "exemplary and professional" behaviour.
It signed off by reminding "teams of their duty to respect all principles of fair play".
Morocco now have only pride to play for when they meet Spain on Monday evening, with Portugal playing Iran.
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