• Football

Lambert dismisses One Direction fans' death threats

ESPN staff
September 13, 2013
One Direction star Louis Tomlinson was sick after being tackled by Gabby Agbonlahor in a charity match © AP
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Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert claims there was "nothing" in the challenge that ended with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson vomiting during Stiliyan Petrov's charity match at Celtic Park last weekend.

The singer was barged over by Gabby Agbonlahor and was later pictured being sick at the side of the pitch. A spoof twitter account set up in the forward's name was later bombarded with abuse and even death threats by 'Directioners' - fans of the popular boy band.

But Lambert played down the incident afterwards, saying that Tomlinson had been fine about it after the final whistle.

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"You're taking someone out of their comfort zone if they are a singer and putting them in a football environment. Footballers can naturally do this kind of thing," said Lambert, a former team-mate of Petrov's at Celtic.

"But I don't know if a threat from a teenage girl is much of a threat.

"There was nothing in it. It was just a great occasion. It was about Stiliyan and the charity. That was the most important thing. The Celtic supporters were fantastic. It was a brilliant day.

"The lad was really nice and my kids got a picture with him, there was no animosity at all. All three of my daughters - and my son - spoke to him. I think my daughters Kira, Nicola and Victoria are fans.

"The guy was really nice and Gabby gave him a pat on the head so there is no problem. Gabby went and spoke to him on the pitch."

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