CHRIS SUTTON has revealed he was attacked in a hotel and nearly run over on a pavement – because of his punditry.
The ex-England star also says he received a death threat in the post as he spoke out after a fan was accused of headbutting Sky Sports’ Roy Keane.
A fan has been arrested following an incident shown online involving Sky Sports duo Roy Keane and Micah Richards
Chris Sutton has told of the extreme abuse he has faced as a punditGetty
Sutton, 50, has been “abused on an airplane by mobs” – but his main concern is how the shocking treatment affects his family.
The former Premier League title-winner with Blackburn partly blames “vitriolic” social media.
But despite a 42-year-old man being arrested on suspicion of assaulting Keane, Sutton is refusing to tone down his own “open, honest and blunt” opinions on air.
Manchester United legend Keane and TV colleague Micah Richards were caught up in an incident at Arsenal’s 3-1 home win over Manchester United on Sunday.
Footage of the confrontation was shown on social media.
And it has focused attention on the reaction pundits can face – in person as well as online.
Sutton outlined the extreme threats he has faced.
He told The Mail‘s It’s All Coming Up show: “Somebody tried to attack me before in a hotel bar. I’ve had a death threat. I’ve had a car mount the pavement and career towards me.
‘I’ve been abused quite badly. I’d say possibly three times over the years, on an airplane by mobs. There’s not like you can do much about it.
“The concern for me would be the effect things have on my family.
“Social media is a really vitriolic place and you know there’ve been certain things which have been posted about my about my dad who you know has dementia which were upsetting, stuff about my daughter.
“I try and be open and up front. I’m not on Instagram so I post a lot of things on Twitter (now X) and most people I think are nice, decent people who understand what Twitter is and you can have a bit of back and forth.
“But it’s society, isn’t it? There’s always that minority of stupid people who spoil it for other people.”