Tommy Robinson has been filmed punching an English football fan to the ground before the team’s match against Netherlands in Portugal.
In a video circulated on social media, the anti-Muslim activist is seen lashing out at a man in an England shirt outside the Estadio D Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes.
The victim is sent sprawling to the floor as he is hit in the face by Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Immediately before the attack, people can be heard shouting Robinson’s name and other inaudible words as he apparently walks alongside his entourage.
The EDL founder, wearing a camouflage jacket, appears to demand “who said that?” as he pursues a group of men in front.
The footage shows him calmly walking away after punching the England supporter, as another man approaches and says: “There’s no need for that is there?”
As the fan staggers to his feet, a voice – apparently Robinson’s – is heard saying: “F*** about again and you’ll be knocked out again, bruv.”
In multiple posts on the social media platform Telegram on Friday, Robinson acknowledged the video and said he had been walking with his wife when it was filmed.
He claimed the man he punched had “come up to me twice getting rowdy, in my face, being abusive, being aggressive”.
Robinson said: “I said to my wife ‘I can see where this is going to go, walk away’.
“I said to the man’s friend, ‘Keep that man away from me, he comes back up to me again like that and watch what happens to him’ ... People get physical with me a lot, I’m not going to wait for him to attack me.
“Twice I warned him, twice I warned his friends ... That’s the context of the video. The man should keep his opinions to himself and his mouth to himself.”
He added: “I should be free to go to a football match with my wife without being harassed because of my politics ... I’m fed up of being a punch bag for people so I’ll unapologetically defend myself.
“I did what I had to do.”
The day before the Nations League semi-final, which England lost 3-1, Robinson posted another video online in which he winked at the camera and said: “I’m in Portugal, going [to] the game. No football banning order here, mate.”
Wearing the same camouflage jacket, he also complained that the media had linked him to football violence in Portugal, where English fans clashed with police on Wednesday.
Robinson stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in northwest England in last month’s European elections.
He faces contempt of court proceedings later this year over the filming of people involved in a criminal trial at Leeds Crown Court.
