Mexico fans threaten ex-England star with 'throat slit' gesture during Azteca clash

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Former England player David Bentley was subjected to chilling threats from enraged

Mexico

supporters who made "throat slit" gestures after he wound them up during the Three Lions' victory at the Aztec Stadium.

The bandana-wearing 41-year-old was filmed hurling rude gestures back at the crowd as tensions boiled over in the stands during the dramatic last-16 showdown and had earlier joked: "We might not get out of here alive."

He had posted several videos from high up in the terraces of the legendary stadium. Sporting a blue retro England shirt, he appeared to be positioned near the front of the away supporters' section, who were heavily outnumbered by the home faithful.

The hosts grew increasingly irate as England fans taunted them throughout the match, while the Three Lions stormed into an early 2-0 lead. Tensions escalated further when Mexico pulled one back, with a thin cordon of police struggling desperately to keep the rival supporters apart.

Following Jarrell Quansah's red card, several Mexican fans were spotted directly confronting Bentley. One spectacled supporter gave him the middle finger before drawing his finger menacingly across his throat.

Another wild-looking fan gestured aggressively for Bentley to come towards him, before also mimicking a throat-cutting motion. Bentley hit back by calling the man a w****r.

He wrote on

Instagram

: "Red Card! Getting tasty now!" Rangers legend Ally McCoist commented: "My money was on the big yin eating you rather than slittin yer throat... ps the big yin with the Gregory's, looks like he couldn't fight sleep."

Another supporter chimed in: "Bentley's always been a wind-up."

Bentley had the last laugh, however, as England booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a dramatic triumph, underpinned by a resolute defensive performance that featured six clearances from substitute Dan Burn, who only entered the fray in the 75th minute.

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The former Blackburn Rovers man subsequently posted several clips on social media of himself celebrating alongside a group of Three Lions fans. The jubilant supporters paraded through the concourse of the Azteca armed with a trumpet and drums.

He wrote: "10 men in the Azteca! Might be better than 'Bentley from the halfway line'. The euphoric scenes continued well into the night across Mexico as 10-man England dramatically sealed their place in the last eight.

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