Wrexham Footballer James McClean has admitted punching a Cardiff City Fan in self-defence after confronting a match.
McClean, who plays as a winger for the club, said a group of rival fans “started running their mouths” as he exited the car in the car.
Wrexham AFC said the incident happened before the two clubs faced each other in the fourth round of the Cababao Cup at the Racecourse on 28 October.
McClean said in the speech: “I was at my workplace and I felt that I would never feel threatened at work … I didn’t wait for him to do the first stop. That’s why I did.”
He said: “However, there were four Cardiff fans, in their late 20s, early 30s.
“They know me, [and] Their mouths will immediately start talking to me. I ignored the first Jibe.
“The second, I responded, and I confronted them about it.
“The words were said. One of them, a tall chapel with glasses, took a hostile step toward me.”
McClean added: “People need to understand just because we play football doesn’t mean people can try and take liberties without their actions.
“That’s it. Nothing more happened. And the situation is dealt with.”
The game kicked off at 20:00 GMT and saw Cardiff City win 2-1 to secure a place in the quarter-finals at home to Chelsea on 16 December.
Wrexham said the incident had been “reported to the relevant authorities” and declined to comment further.
Cardiff City FC said it had not received a formal complaint “from any supporter”, adding that it had not been approached by Wrexham or North Wales police.
North Wales police said it had not received any reports related to the incident.
The Northern Irish-born player was the subject of verbal abuse earlier this year, when Lincoln City fans referring to anti-catholic chants to him in a match on 3 May.
The club was fined £8,500 by the Football Association for failing to control supporters.
McClean, 36, grew up in Derry and once said he knew how to make petrol bombs At 11 years old because of the riots.
He refused to wear a poppy because of Bloody Sunday – when 13 people were shot dead and at least 15 injured during the Army’s rights demonstrations in 1972.
He has 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring 11 goals with the national team between 2012 and 2023.