Graeme Souness issues defiant response to 'man's game' furore as Simon Jordan lets rip over lightweight activism

Unbowed Graeme Souness doesn't regret his "man's game" verdict in the wake of growing sexism row over his comments after Chelsea and Tottenham's stormy clash on Sunday.

The Rangers and Liverpool icon has come under heavy fire from a section of the sport two weeks removed from the England women's team securing Euro 2022 glory. Former player Eniola Aluko told the beloved pundit the language he used was not appropriate in the modern world.

Asked by host Jim White if he would regretted his word choice, he told talkSPORT: "No. Not a word of it. Let me explain. I've been advocating for years, the referees have such a major part to play the success of the Premier League. We were fast approaching, we were fast becoming like other leagues, the game didn't flow and it wasn't a very good watch.

"Our game has always been unique, we has always been more meaty, more intense, more in your face and we got away from that. I think yesterday, my comments yesterday, we've got our game back, that's the kind of playing football I remember playing in. We've got our game back, I enjoyed two games of football where men were playing men and they got about themselves at times, and they got about each other."

Souness' response was firm but co-host Simon Jordan who then leaped to the defence of his on-air sparring partner as he believes those complaining have misjudged the situation. And he reckons the furore is a prime example of what he brands "lightweight activism".

The former Crystal Palace owner jumped in: "That's preposterous, I've seen some of the blowback going on, the social media activists getting at it, what an absolute load of nonsense. How can somebody, a man describing a game featuring men, can't apparently use the word men in