Ex-scotland star describes knife threat by rival team’s fan on Underground
A former Scottish footballer has revealed he hit a fan after they brandished a knife at him on the London Underground after a game.
Pat Nevin, 54, the ex-chelsea and Motherwell winger, said he was on a busy Tube train one night after a match when a rival supporter demanded to know his identity.
Nevin put on a fake accent and denied who he was, but was left terrified when the man, believed to be a Spurs fan, pulled out a knife.
In a desperate bid to save himself he punched the man and fled from the carriage.
Nevin, who won 28 caps for Scotland in his 20-year career, was speaking after ex-liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, 40, was suspended after spitting on a 14-year-old girl after being taunted following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.
In a radio interview, Nevin was asked about how famous people should react to provocation.
Nevin said: “You have got to try and rein it in but sometimes it is impossible and I’ll be honest, there was a time when I didn’t. Someone did have a knife at me at the time and I did smack him one, but it has always been thus and it has always been there.
“I was on a Tube back from a game and one of the supporters of the opposition team said, ‘You’re Nevin aren’t you?’
“And I put on an accent and pretended not to be, and he pulled a knife on me.
“I then smacked him one and got off my mark because I had to save myself.
“It has always been there but you have to be sensible and you know when to take the risks and you know when you’ll get caught out.
“It is very, very rare. But there is a clear difference between banter and a life-threatening situation.”
Nevin had previously described in the interview how rather than drive to his West London home after a game he would simply tuck his boots under his arm and get the Tube.
Carragher has spoken with the family involved in the incident to say sorry. The family said he should not be fired.