England's footballers could be among those putting their careers and their health at risk at the European Championship over what has been described as painkiller ‘abuse’ by FIFA’s chief medical officer.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine has labelled it ‘potential disastrous practice’ but the Football Association refused to be drawn on the issue, even though the comments made by Dr Jiri Dvorak apply to all 16 nations in Poland and Ukraine.

In a study Dvorak found that 39 per cent of players at the 2010 World Cup were taking pain medication prior to every game; in particular anti- inflammatories that enable a footballer to play with an existing injury.

Putting his body on the line: John Terry often plays through the pain barrier

Ahead of Euro 2012, Dr Dvorak has called for football to address the issue amid fears that younger players are imitating their senior colleagues and taking painkillers far too often.

Former England and Manchester United centre half Gary Pallister has spoken in the past of his concerns; that during his injury-ravaged career he took anti-inflammatories far too frequently just to play. It is also clear that today’s players like John Terry are playing regularly with injuries.

During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa FIFA’s medical staff asked team doctors to provide a list of medications that players were taking ahead of each game.

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