George Mills showed he is a rival when he took on Hugo Hay yesterday after his chaotic 5,000m heat, accusing his French rival of trying to knock him out.
The 25-year-old is the son of former England footballer Danny, who was sent off six times during his career and was involved in several on-field brawls.
Mills was furious after Hay appeared to push him on the straight, causing him to collide with Spaniard Thierry Ndikumwenayo, sending them both to the ground.
Dominic Lobalu of the Olympic Refugee Team and Dutchman Mike Foppen also went down after being unable to avoid the fallen duo.
After getting back up and crossing the goal line, Mills immediately confronted Hay, angrily pointing at the home favourite who tried to stop him.
George Mills appeared to be pushed by Hugo Hay, leading to a collision with Spaniard Thierry Ndikumwenayo
The pair got their legs tangled together and fell hard to the ground on the final straight of the 5,000m heat
Dominic Lobalu of the Olympic Refugee Team and Dutchman Mike Foppen had no time to react and also ended up on the ground – with the latter landing on the back of his head
Immediately after the race, Mills Hay looked out and pointed directly in his direction
Hay tried to calm the situation down, but Mills gave the Frenchman a gentle shove on the chest
Mills appeared unhappy with the Frenchman’s reaction and brushed Hay’s hand off his shoulder before walking away
The four men who fell, including Mike Foppen and Mills, were sent through to the final by Olympic officials
It looked like Mills’ Olympic dream was over, but after watching the race footage, the video referee put him in for Saturday night’s final. Hay also kept his place.
Asked what he said to Hay, the European silver medallist said: ‘I probably shouldn’t say that. I think it’s pretty clear that I got run over when I was about to kick the home straight. The French guy knocked me down.
‘I was just waiting, biding my time, and I went to get the ball on the straight, but boom, I hit the ground.
I wanted to put my foot down on the straight and then I was driven out.’
Hay later pleaded not guilty, saying: ‘There was a big crash, it wasn’t me. Someone pushed me, something happened. I turned around and everyone was on the floor, so I hope it wasn’t me.’
The Frenchman appeared to want to calm the situation down, but Mills gave him a push.
Mills seemed unhappy with Hay’s response. He brushed the Frenchman’s hand off his shoulder and walked away.
The Team GB star finished 18th and therefore did not qualify for the next round, but the Frenchman went through after finishing seventh.
Lobalu finished 15th, Foppen 19th and Ndikumwenayo did not finish the race.
However, Mills and the three other runners who fell in the collision all went through to the final, after officials made a decision after the race.
George (left) is the son of former Premier League footballer Danny who played for England
Despite the fall, Mills has been given a second chance and will compete in the final
Danny Mills was known to be a temperamental individual during his football career and received 60 yellow cards and three red cards in his 15-year career
Mills had nearly crashed earlier in the race when he revealed he had overcome a crash with 800 metres to go.
He said: ‘When it happened I thought, ‘Thank God, I hope I don’t fall,’ but later I fell to the ground.’
Paula Radcliffe, who covered the race for the BBC, said after the race: ‘There’s a lot to look back on, I have to clean up and decide whose fault it was.
“If you decide to jog that little bit, it’s kind of your own fault. You end up with all those falls.”
The second heat was run by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won a medal in the 1,500 meters in vain last night.
The Norwegian won the second heat and is the favourite for the final, but he was not happy with the cameraman who casually walked from the middle of the track to the edge, just in front of the runners.
Mills’ father Danny was known as a temperamental person during his football career.
The former England defender received 60 yellow cards and three red cards during his 15-year career.
