Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur defender Neil Ruddock threatened to beat up Paul Merson during a fiery argument about the amount he drinks.
'Razor' Ruddock has a reputation as a football hardman and took issue with Arsenal great Merson saying his drinking is killing him.
Merson has opened up about his own issues with alcohol addiction in the past and was trying to help his old friend.
However, Ruddock responded by threatening to beat up Merson in an exchange filmed as part of the new series of ITV's Harry's Heroes, according to The Sun.
52-year-old Ruddock was downing shots and pints when Merson, also 52, warned that his drinking was out of control.
Ruddock hit out by saying: “Don’t shout at me or I’ll get the hump with you. I’ll throw you out the f*****g door. This gives me the hump. F**k off.”
The former centre-back left Merson in tears and was also crying himself as he showed his regret about the argument.
"I’ve just had a barney with Merse. We love each other. We’ve known each other since we were 16," Ruddock said.
“It’s all right if it’s people you don’t really know telling you ‘do this, do that’, but when it comes from someone you love, that’s why it hurts so much. It got to me.”
Merson has also opened up on his mental health struggles during lockdown and claims that the new series of Harry's Heroes saved his life.
“No one wants to die. He’s a f*****g good bloke," Merson added.
The TV show follows a team of former England players managed by Harry Redknapp and the second series - Harry's Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh - begins next Monday at 9pm.
Merson made 21 Three Lions appearances in the '90s, scoring three times, while his old pal Ruddock made one appearance in 1994.
