Chris Sutton has revealed he’s been attacked, sent death threats and abused on more than one flight by fans.

The Celtic hero turned pundit has lifted the lid on the personal attacks that have come his way, after Roy Keane was allegedly ‘headbutted’ by a thug while working his duties for Sky Sports. It sparked ex-players, managers and pundits to unite and tell their stories with the Record Sport columnist bravely speaking about his own experience with angry fans. The Premier League winner was even forced to report a death threat to police while in Scotland but that ‘nothing came out of it’.

Known for his comical and entertaining punditry style, Sutton admits his affiliation with passionate clubs such as Celtic and Norwich City can sometimes attract ‘vitriolic’ social media barbs thrown his way. The 50-year-old says he has thick skin, but when matters of his family become involved become a major concern, yet he bravely insists he’s got no plans to hang up the microphone.

He told the Mail Online’s ‘It’s Coming Up’ podcast: “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. I broadcast in a way where I try to be honest, not everyone agrees with my opinion. But I think you’ll know this yourself. As a broadcaster, you have to have thick skin.

“How do you deal with it the death threat? I reported it to the police. With the abuse on an airplane, I just sat through it, took off, got off at the other end.

“What can I do If I argue back. If I shout back. Essentially the way I see it and everybody handles things differently, If I bite back then I’ve lost haven’t I? And done exactly what the mob want me to do in terms of getting in a row with people. So the best thing to do is to ignore and move on.”

When asked if such threats make him consider his role, he added: “Not at all in terms of my style. My style is my style. I mean, 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. But in terms of the way I broadcast, I have my style, the style which I think is best.

“I try and be open and honest and blunt. I don’t get everything right. Of course, nobody does get everything right. But the most important thing is to say things as I see them.

“I have had a playing career, so that affiliation with Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Celtic, I have a strong affiliation with those particular clubs. but that doesn’t at all influence the way that I broadcast. I’ve been critical of all three clubs subsequently since I’ve been playing. Those were clubs which I had happy memories for. But that part of my career is gone now. I work in the media, and I have an obligation for the people to work as hard as I possibly can for them and give my honest opinion.”