Michael Owen vs Chris Sutton: Pundits clash in concussion chat during Benfica v Ajax | OneFootball

Chris Sutton branded Michael Owen a ‘caveman’ in an extraordinary clash during the Champions League match between Ajax and Benfica.

The two pundits were working alongside each other on BT Sport covering the match.

There were worrying scenes in the first half when Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Otamendi clashed heads.

Martinez looked a little worse for wear but it was decided he could carry on.

Sutton was asked whether football needed to do more to protect players when it comes to head injuries. It was a question which sparked Sutton and Owen going at it in a remarkable bit of TV. Watch it below…

He replied: “Absolutely. Until IFAB step up and change the concussion protocols, they are not looking after player welfare. Player welfare isn’t put right within the game.

“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.”

Owen then chimed in, asking what should have been done differently in regards to Martinez.

Sutton replied: “He needs to come off the pitch to the sanctuary of the dressing room and get checked by an independent doctor. In the mean time, he is replaced by a temporary substitute so you are not numerically disadvantaged. It is common sense. Why are IFAB not stepping up?”

Owen then got involved again, saying: “Because bumps and bangs on the head,..”

Sutton then jumped in, saying with annoyance: “Hang on a minute, concussion is a bump and a bang. How do you know that is not a concussion?”

Owen then argued he knew that because no players had come off. Sutton disagreed and said there was no way he could possibly know.

Owen then declared: “If you take what you say to an extreme, every time they roll around holding their leg, they have broken their leg.”

This angered Sutton even more, who responded: “Michael, that is the view of a caveman. Football needs to catch up.”

The two then continued to go at it until presenter Seema Jaswal got involved and put an end to the argument.