Faced with increasing criticism regarding its handling of head injuries, FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, is expected to confirm a new policy this week that will allow referees to stop games for up to three minutes so that an injured player can be examined by a team doctor.

The new guideline will be instituted after FIFA’s executive committee affirms it with a vote during its two-day meeting this week in Zurich. UEFA, which oversees European soccer, adopted the protocol last week. It will be used for the first time in the Champions League next week.

The issue of concussions in soccer became even more inflamed last summer at the World Cup after several players appeared to sustain serious injuries only to continue playing. In the final, between Germany and Argentina, Christoph Kramer of Germany was knocked unconscious in a collision with an Argentine opponent but remained on the field for 14 minutes before being substituted.

It was revealed after the game, won by Germany, that Kramer had been disoriented after his collision. The match referee, Nicola Rizzoli of Italy, told an Italian newspaper that Kramer approached him shortly after getting to his feet to ask whether he was playing in the World Cup final; at that point, Rizzoli said he informed Germany’s captain, Philipp Lahm, who encouraged Germany’s coaches to replace Kramer.