Referee apologises for Sanchez Watt blunder

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 07 March 2018

Hemel Hempstead Town chairman Dave Boggins says that the referee has apologised for the confusion involving former Arsenal forward Sanchez Watt on Tuesday night.

Hemel Hempstead Town chairman Dave Boggins has praised the referee who reversed his decision to send off Sanchez Watt in the club's fixture with East Thurrock United.

During the second half, Watt was due to be cautioned for kicking the ball away, only for official Dean Hulme to hand Watt a second yellow card for dissent when being asked to provide his name.

The former Arsenal forward had replied "Watt" on three occasions, with the referee wrongly perceiving that the 28-year-old was not taking his request seriously.

The decision was eventually reversed - with Watt being allowed to remain on the pitch - and Boggins has revealed that Hulme had found the misunderstanding "amusing".

Boggins told BBC Sport: "It was a human error. The referee was man enough to rectify it. I think everybody found it amusing afterwards - including the referee.

"He came into the boardroom after the game and explained how he had made the mistake. He was very apologetic and saw the funny side of it. He was a good ref on the night to be fair to him."

Watt - who made three appearances for the Gunners at the start of his career - is currently contracted to Billericay Town but has been allowed to spend a loan period with Hemel Hempstead.