“You what?”
A former Arsenal player this week found himself at the centre of one of the most ludicrous red card incidents in recent years, after a non-league referee seemingly mistook his name for dissent.
During a National League South match between Hemel Hempstead and East Thurrock on Tuesday, Sanchez Watt received a booking from referee Dean Hulme.
After being cautioned, Watt was called over by Hulme to give his name for the book, before replying with a simple and accurate: “Watt, Watt”.
The phantom red card at @hemelfc
This seemed to happen:
The Ref asks Sanchez Watt for his name.
Watt gives it repeatedly but the ref hears it as ‘What? What?’
The ref shows him a red for dissent.
Parkes explains to the ref who rescinds the card.
@NonLeagueCrowd @HemelFans pic.twitter.com/z14PtEcGJZ
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) March 6, 2018
Unfortunately for Watt, who was a member of Arsenal’s youth team alongside Jack Wilshere, the referee mistook this repetition of his name for the player saying “What? What?” and swiftly handed out another yellow card for dissent.
Red card: Sanchez Watt is sent off, presumably for dissent.
— Hemel Hempstead Town FC (@hemelfc) March 6, 2018
And all of sudden the colour of the card changes to yellow. A rather bizarre incident all stemming from the decision to award Thurrock a goal kick despite a clear touch from a defender before the ball went out.
— Hemel Hempstead Town FC (@hemelfc) March 6, 2018
Thankfully for the 27-year-old, Hemel Hempstead captain Jordan Parkes was nearby and was quick to clear up the situation with the referee, who promptly reversed his decision.
All’s well that ends well, but if we take anything from this story let it be that former Germany international Stefan Kuntz is a very lucky man to have never found himself facing a caution from Dean Hulme.
