Ajax’s Martinez and Benfica’s Otamendi clashed heads during their sides’ 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening.
Sutton is a leading advocate for player welfare and for improved awareness around head injuries. His father Mike – also a former professional – died in 2020 after suffering from dementia.
The former Blackburn and Chelsea forward slammed the decision to allow Ajax’s Martinez to play on despite the player appearing to be in some distress.
Asked by presenter Seema Jaswal whether football needs to do more to protect players from serious head injuries, Sutton said: “Absolutely. Until IFAB step up and change the concussion protocols, they are not looking after player welfare.
JUST IN: Paul Scholes names two players that sum up Man Utd’s plight
“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.
“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?”
Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our brand new Facebook group by clicking here
The German clashed with Scott McTominay and appeared incredibly dazed, only to play on for another 20 minutes before finally being withdrawn.
He missed Leeds’ 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool on Wednesday night with concussion.
Leeds claim they correctly followed the concussion protocol.
Boss Marcelo Bielsa said: “We all did exactly what corresponded.
“We did nothing different to the protocol, everything according to the protocol.
“I was convinced it was just the bleeding from the cut because that was the first conclusion after the evaluation the player had.
“After when he manifested different symptoms, he was substituted. The protocol that is applied is what generates whether he should be substituted or not.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
