Sam Thompson admits he ‘panicked’ ahead of possible run-in with Louis Tomlinson at Soccer Aid over the weekend. Sam has admitted he felt a wave of panic at the thought of a potential run-in with Louis Tomlinson during Soccer Aid with behind-the-scenes tensions bubbling long before the match. The reality star, 32, revealed he was caught off guard months ago when asked how he’d feel sharing a pitch with the One Direction singer, who is now dating his ex, Zara McDermott . “I panicked and thought, ‘I don’t have this,’” he explained on his Staying Relevant podcast. "So I said, ‘It’s not about me and Louis. It’s not about who’s dating who - it’s UNICEF, it’s charity.” ”Everyone’s here for the same reason: to raise money. And if he’s got anything about him, which I’ve heard he does, he’ll say the same.” Sam and Zara, who met in 2019 after she shot to fame on Love Island , broke up briefly before getting back together but called time on their relationship for good in December. She’s since moved on with Louis, though the new couple have kept things quiet publicly – with Louis only briefly featuring on Zara's Instagram during a romantic trip in the US earlier this year. Sam, meanwhile, hasn’t shied away from addressing the situation, previously saying: “I’ve never met Louis. But the moment I do, I’ll be like, ‘Mate, how amazing is this? Hopefully we can raise as much money as possible.’ And from what I hear, he’s a lovely bloke, so I imagine the reply will be the same.” He did, however, downplay their romance as a “hook-up” and was quick to point out that the real focus should be on the cause, not relationships. “It’s a charity football game and everyone will have a smile on their face. Everybody is doing it for a cause that’s far beyond who’s hooking up with who. Football brings everyone together.” Although both were set to play on the same team for England, Sam pulled out ahead of the match due to injury after his recent marathon challenge, which was also for Soccer Aid. A insider said: “Sam’s gutted he can’t play, but the match has just come too soon. He’ll still be involved in the coverage, but he won’t be on the pitch.” Another insider added: “There’s a small blessing in it without Sam and Louis on the field together, the focus shifts back to the game and the charity. Their every move was going to be watched, so in some ways, it’s a relief.” Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .