[Flyboy]

Let's assume that this bus was a typical bus, with the driver shut away behind a perspex screen. It is unlikely that the rest of the crowded bus was really able to hear exactly what he was saying. What is more possibly likely to have happened, is that the mother shouted, "did you 'ear what 'e said? 'e said, that my darling little boy's Engerland shirt offends 'im. Can yer believe it? You all 'eard 'im, didn't yer, righ' ?"

But then, "...a torrent of anger from incredulous passengers...," probably means two old dears saying, "tsk" and raing theior eyeborws a little, "...minutes later backed down..." probably means two seconds later, he allowed her on the bus, to avoid an unnecessary scene which she was creating herself. I am not saying that the story is untrue, but going on this particular publication's history and its propensity to stretch the truth, it would irresponsible for anyone to ignore that there were other explanations.