Former
Arsenal prospect Sanchez Watt was briefly given his marching orders in bizarre fashion on Tuesday night when his surname caused confusion in a National League South match.
Watt had been booked for kicking the ball away in Hemel Hempstead’s clash with East Thurrock United but seemed set for another card when the referee went to put the 27-year-old’s name in his book.
Whatever Dean Hulme heard he did not like as he handed Watt his marching orders, only to have a change of heart as Hemel Hempstead players rushed to their team-mate’s defence.
On the club Twitter feed (@hemelfc) successive tweets declared Watt out of the action and then back in the game.
“Red card: Sanchez Watt is sent off, presumably for dissent.
“And all of a 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 11 men.”
Watt had reportedly been asked him name by the referee, who took his response as a display of insolence and showed him a second yellow.
It was only the intervention of club captain Jordan Parkes that saved Watt from an early exit as Hemel secured a 2-0 win, with the striker scoring the second goal, that keeps them in contention for a play-off spot in the National League South.