Watt the? Referee mistook footballer’s surname for dissent

A STUNNED crowd couldn’t understand why a player was sent off while talking to a referee — but now the conversation has been revealed.

Sanchez Watt was briefly sent off for dissent. Picture: The Sun

A FOOTBALLER was sent off after a bungling referee mistook his surname for dissent.

Arsenal old boy Sanchez Watt turned fouled his way into the ref’s book during the National League South clash with East Thurrock on Tuesday night, according to The Sun.

But things took a turn for the farcical when official Dean Hulme asked for the Hemel Hempstead striker’s name and thought he was belligerently replying: “What?”

Watt plays as a striker for Hemel Hempstead. Picture: The Sun

Watt, 27, who scored the second goal of the 2-0 win, was shown a red card but captain fantastic Jordan Parkes swooped in to explain the misunderstanding.

The ex-Gunner — by then en-route for an early bath — was then called back to the ref who quashed the red and reverted back to the initial yellow.

As the debacle unfolded, the official Hemel Hempstead Twitter account said: “Red card: Sanchez Watt is sent off, presumably for dissent.

Red card: Sanchez Watt is sent off, presumably for dissent.

— Hemel Hempstead Town (@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 (@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.

“Just to clarify, Hemel still have eleven men.”

“It was a human error,” Hemel Hempstead chairman Dave Boggins told BBC Sport.

“The referee was man enough to rectify it.

“I think everybody found it amusing afterwards — including the referee.

Watt played for Arsenal in 2009. Picture: The Sun.

And Scotty Shulton, Watt’s teammate, added to the Twitter thread by explaining what was said to the ref to change his mind

He wrote: “Haha yeah I was playing! Quite funny!

“That it’s his actual name and wasn’t lying or taking the P”

Watt made three League Cup appearances for Arsenal and scored one goal in 2009.

This story originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.