A Liverpool FC fan who was racially abused by rival fans after a match at Anfield has tracked down a man who heroically stepped in to help him.
Reds fan Mas Patel and his 12-year-old son Zenadin had travelled to Anfield from their home in London to watch Liverpool take on Brentford in January.
On the train back to the capital after the match, Mas became aware of a group of Brentford fans making vile chants, which included racist and homophobic terminology as well as slurs about the Hillsborough disaster.
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Mas recorded some of the chants and tweeted out a video in order to alert the authorities - but then became a target for the group.
He explained: "They realised it was me who had tweeted and they came up to me and were really threatening, getting in my face - my son was really upset and scared, that was the hardest part for me."
Mas said he stood his ground and challenged the group - with an older Brentford fan backing him up.
He said: "It was really tense, but this one Brentford fan, who was an older man, got up and stuck up for me - he said he was disgusted with the group and that they did not represent the club. It was amazing what he did."
Eventually Mas and his son were taken to the front of the train for their safety and were then escorted out of London Euston by security staff, with the group of Brentford fans waiting for them.
Since the awful incident, Mas has been trying to raise awareness of racism in football and has also been trying to track down the older Brentford fan who stepped in on the train.
He said that he has now located the fan, who has been invited along with Mas and his son to watch a game in the director's box at Brentford later this season.
Mas said: "Brentford have been brilliant throughout this and now they have invited us and the fan who helped us to a game in the director's box, which will be really nice.
"The man didn't want any publicity, he was really humble about what happened, but I wanted to say thank you and he said he would be happy to meet us at the game."
Mas, who is a lawyer and a Labour Councillor in London, had hoped that some of those who abused him would also get in touch - as he had asked if they would sit down with him to discuss what happened.
He added: "I wanted to try and speak with them and help them to understand what they had done, so I am a bit disappointed they haven't come forward."
The incident is still being investigated by both British Transport Police and Brentford FC.
At the time, a club spokesperson said: "We condemn any abusive or discriminatory behaviour that has taken place. We will be investigating and will follow up on these awful reports. We are a club for all. Discrimination has no place at Brentford FC."
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