Ex-Celtic star reveals how he was once threatened by a MURDERER during chilling encounter
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
FOOTBALL star Tony Watt has revealed he was once threatened by a convicted murderer for telling the man to get out of a team photo.
The former Celtic striker told how he was left terrified by the encounter with the killer while playing for St Johnstone.
Sign up for the Celtic newsletter
Sign up
2
Tony Watt scored a famous goal for Celtic against Barcelona
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow
2
The scary encounter happened during his time at St Johnstone
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow
Inmates were visiting the Perth club's McDiarmid Park ground as part of a rehabilitation project while Watt and his team-mates were posing for photographs on the pitch.
Watt, 31, told how he jokingly told the man to get out of the way only for him to react furiously and confront the petrified player in the changing room.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme, he said: "When I was at St Johnstone they used to do a thing with the community where they would let ex-prisoners in.
"We were doing a team photo and there was somebody in a hi-viz vest in the background.
"I didn't know about the community thing at the time so as footballers do for banter I was shouting 'Get out of this photo you' and there were a loud couple of laughs.
"I went into the changing room and the door opens and he goes 'Tony Watt I don't want to be in your f**king photo, you can f**k off'.
"He walked out and the boys were like 'He was in jail for murder'.
"I don't think I spoke for the rest of the day. I was trying to be a smart Alec and I nearly got battered off a murderer.
"It's a good thing the club do to integrate them back in but not when you have got loudmouths like myself shouting stuff at them."
The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up
Watt, who played for St Johnstone during the 2018/19 season, signed for Partick Thistle earlier this month after recent spells with Dundee United and Motherwell.
He shot to fame as an 18-year-old after scoring the winning goal for Celtic against Barcelona in a Champions League tie.
Watt from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, made himself an instant cult figure among the Parkhead faithful with his strike and reduced celebrity fan Rod Stewart to tears.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Penalty rebounds 'could be SCRAPPED for 2026 World Cup' in radical shake-up...as VAR powers also 'face major expansion'
Penalty rebounds could be scrapped entirely under dramatic new plans being considered by football's law-makers - potentially coming into force in time for the 2026 World Cup. The proposal, being discussed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), would see any missed penalty immediately result in a goal-kick, with no chance for the taker or others to score on the rebound, as reported by The Sun. That means iconic moments like Harry Kane 's extra-time rebound against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final or Xabi Alonso 's equaliser in Liverpool 's legendary 2005 Champions League comeback would no longer stand under the proposed rules. The idea is to treat a penalty as a single, standalone shot - much like a penalty stroke in hockey. Once the kick is taken, play would stop. If the ball goes in, it's a goal and the game restarts at the halfway line. If it doesn't, it's a goal-kick for the defending side - no corners, no second chances. Officials believe it could help eliminate disputes over encroachment and remove an unfair advantage for the attacking team. Currently, goalkeepers must have one foot on or behind the line, while attackers can pounce on rebounds, which some argue is a double punishment for defenders. The potential law change is being considered as part of a wider review aimed at modernising the game, particularly ahead of the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026. Any new rules would need to be finalised by the end of February to be introduced in time. Also on the table are plans to expand the scope of VAR. IFAB is looking at allowing video checks for second yellow cards and corners — but only when there's a 'unfair' dismissals or 'clear error' that can be reviewed quickly, without further delays to the game. Discussions over rules changed were during the recent Club World Cup in the US - with some senior figures now backing significant reform.
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Linfield boss David Healy laments failure to make most of ‘golden' chances after Champions League exit to Shelbourne
Linfield manager David Healy said missed opportunities haunted his side in their European defeat to Shelbourne. The 1-1 draw at Windsor Park saw Shelbourne edge the Champions League First Qualifying Round tie 2-1.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brendan Rodgers confirms that Japanese forward Shin Yamada is on his way to Celtic ... but insists he remains in the hunt for another striker
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Japanese forward Shin Yamada is on his way to Celtic Park. He admitted after a 2-0 friendly win over Sporting Lisbon in Portugal on Wednesday night that he still needs more firepower and remains in the hunt for another striker. But he insisted that former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is not on his radar despite being linked with a return. Yamada, 25, will join the club in a £1.3million move after departing J-League side Kawasaki Frontale yesterday. Rodgers said: 'He'll have a medical over the next couple of days and we'll have a look at him. We've lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect. 'He's got intensity and workrate. It's something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he's a bit older, he's probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure. 'I need to look and see him when he comes in and hopefully he can do well. The idea was to bring him in and assess him. He's a strong boy, but we'd want to add to our front line also.' Asked about links with Edouard, who looks set to be made available by Crystal Palace, Rodgers was less forthcoming. 'I'm not worried so much about a big name,' he said. 'It's about the collective of the team. Big names don't always give you what you need. This team needs hunger, goals and work rate and intensity. Big names don't always give you that, it's about big players. 'I just want players who are hungry to learn but also ready now. There are lots of players linked with us. 'Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him but it's about a player who will fit into the structure of the team.' Rodgers was thrilled with his team's 'outstanding' performance after second half goals from Reo Hatate and substitute Luke McCowan earned Celtic an impressive victory over the Portuguese champions at the Estadio Algarve near Faro. They delivered a polished display and controlled possession for long spells against the Portuguese champions. Rodgers told Celtic TV: 'Performance wise it was outstanding. We made another step in our fitness and tactical idea with some of the players coming in. 'Overall it was a very, very good performance against a very good team. Tactically we were excellent with our pressure and pressing and some of our football was outstanding. 'We maybe lacked a little bit in the final third at times just to finish off some great moves but other than that it was a very, very good workout for us.' Celtic lined up with Dane Murray in central defence and summer signing Benjamin Nygren in midfield and created the better first-half chances, although goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel pulled off one save at full stretch. Adam Idah failed to get enough power on two efforts from good opportunities and Daizen Maeda forced a good stop with a powerful volley. Half-time substitute Johnny Kenny earned Celtic a 47th-minute penalty when he beat a defender to James Forrest's cross after a slick and purposeful passing move. Hatate converted as the spot-kick went in off the goalkeeper. Kenny was also involved in the second goal in the 72nd minute with his run and through ball setting up McCowan, who showed good feet before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
