Chris Sutton showed his emotional side during a heartbreaking chat about his late father Mike.
The Celtic hero got choked up as he described his dad's battle with dementia following years of heading the ball during his football career with Norwich City, Chester and Carlisle.
Sutton has long been an advocate for concussion substitutes in the game and he has spoken out on numerous occasions about how football should do more to protect its players. A link has been found between the illness and the sport we all love so much and Sutton is desperate to see new protocols put in place to ensure the safety for players.
Coming up on #BBCBreakfast former Premier League star, Chris Sutton talks to @sallynugent about his father Mike, who also played football.
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) April 6, 2021
Mike passed away from dementia last year ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8Ygk91xy39
Speaking to @sallynugent Chris Sutton calls for temporary substitutes in football to allow players with head injuries to receive treatment ⬇️https://t.co/642b3tp7O2 pic.twitter.com/faHOgEwXlP
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) April 6, 2021
During a tearful interview with BBC Breakfast, Sutton recalled his dad keeping a diary until his fight against dementia made it difficult for him. Sutton said: "He used to write a diary and then one day he picked a pen up and didn't know how to use it."
The former Hoops striker has called on football's governing bodies to make use of an emergency, temporary concussion substitution rule to ensure players get the proper treatment they need to protect them against head injuries, while also making sure the team does not suffer a numerical disadvantage.
"The temporary concussion replacements need to be put into place, at this moment in time it's the permanent ones but they are not in the players' best interest," Sutton added. "I've seen numerous incidents this season where similar things have happened where players have a head injury and they're not taken off the pitch.
"You think, well, to look after a player correctly, surely the most sensible thing is to take your time, take him off the pitch, let an independent doctor look at them in the sanctuary of the dressing room and take the time. If everything is okay, in the meantime, you have a sub on so you're not actually disadvantaged because of this."
We told how the SPFL confirmed they would trial concussion subs this season to try and combat long-term issues.
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