Michael Owen should’ve been BANNED for Star Sixes final after ‘booting’ Jason McAteer, ex-Liverpool striker Dean Saunders claims

Dean Saunders insists Michael Owen should’ve been banned for the Star Sixes final after a clash with former Liverpool team-mate Jason McAteer.

Owen scored twice as England beat Rest of the World 3-2 to win the tournament in Glasgow, however the main talking point came during the 1-0 victory over Republic of Ireland.

The match descended into a scrap following an off-the-ball incident involving ex-Anfield stars McAteer and Owen in which both players lashed out at each other.

The Republic of Ireland star pulls back Owen

The England striker received only a yellow card while McAteer was sent off, and Saunders, who was at the tournament representing Wales, believes Owen should’ve been banned for the final.

“I was right at the side of the pitch,” Saunders told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. “Jason [McAteer] is just Mr Niggle, isn’t he? He just has a niggle at every incident.

“He’s grabbed Michael Owen’s arm and Michael has booted him. Jason’s turned around, they’ve had a square up, and then he’s put the bottom of his foot in Michael’s back, it was a complete head-loss.

“Liam Lawrence lost his head, he’s kicking the advertising boards and Michael Owen’s laughing his head off.

“He should’ve been banned for the final, but he played and scored two.”

And McAteer was similarly confused as to why Owen was allowed to stay on the pitch.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, the Irishman said: “Referee obviously didn’t see – or he didn’t want to see it probably – because it was England and Michael Owen, more to the point.

“We kind of made up a little bit and I gave him a friendly sort of push up the backside.

“How is that not a red card? How is that not a red card?

“I tell you why it’s not a red card, because it’s Michael Owen and it’s England and because the officials are that bad.”

England needed to beat Republic of Ireland to progress to the final on Sunday and Paul Konchesky’s late strike sealed a meeting with Rest of the World.

Then Owen’s heroics, combined with a deflected strike from Joe Cole, saw England twice come from behind to overcome Robert Pires and co.