Football holds the capability to arouse all the emotions in us. Be it the bursting joy when our teams score or the inflaming rage when the team underperforms.
If we fans lose control over our emotions, imagine what the football pundits must feel when they force themselves to remain composed in heated debates.
And sure enough, last night was yet another example, with Chris Sutton locking horns with Michael Owen over the concussion regulations in football.
The former England internationals discussed the injuries that had taken place during Benfica and Ajax.
Former Manchester City star Nicolas Otamendi collided with Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez, who seemed highly discomforted after the clash.
Chris Sutton argued that the authorities need to start paying attention to concussion injuries, with an independent doctor properly assessing the players before allowing them to play on, with the similar incident of Robin Koch hovering above.
Check out the footage from BT Sport below –
This exchange between Michael Owen & Chris Sutton on concussion is unbelievable…Sutton very generous in his caveman assessment. pic.twitter.com/etQ1KGw9Ot
— Sean Coppack (@seancoppack) February 23, 2022
“You saw the horrible incident at the weekend when Robin Koch carried on after a serious head injury. Football doesn’t care. It needs to start caring.”
However, Owen had contrasting opinions regarding the issue, as he went on to call concussions “bumps and bangs on the head.”
When Sutton objected, the former Liverpool star argued that just because players “roll around holding their leg” doesn’t mean that they have suffered from an injury.
Sutton could not hold into his rage as he went on to call the former Ballon d’Or winner’s views as that of a “caveman”.
Chris Sutton is well acquainted with concussion injuries and has been a driving force for the welfare of footballers, especially after he lost his father – also a player – due to dementia.
Whatever you think of Chris Sutton as a pundit, he’s been the most consistently outspoken British ex-pro on concussion/head knocks in football, and he clearly knows the relevant research inside out. It’s genuinely incredible that Michael Owen would try and argue with him about it https://t.co/NYXTsmmrvn
— Dave (@DavFlan) February 23, 2022
After the concussion injury last week, several Premier League clubs have been demanding a change in the rules, with the introduction of temporary replacements.
Such replacements would allow a doctor to properly examine the players before allowing them to play any further.