Ollie Watkins has been hot in the first half of the Premier League season. The Englishman has scored nine goals and six assists in seventeen games for his Aston Villa – a big reason for the club’s impressive third place in the table.
Also in Sunday’s game against his former club Brentford, where he played between 2017 and 2020, Watkins netted. In the 85th minute of the match, the striker headed in the decisive goal from a corner. He then celebrated in front of his former supporters, something that caused great irritation among the Brentford players.
A big fight broke out inside the goal, where, among other things, the former Östersund player Saman Ghoddos, now in Brentford, was involved. The brawl characterized the rest of the match and by the final whistle ten yellow and two red cards had been handed out.
Brawl after Watkins’ goal. Photo: John Walton”This was no joke”
After the game, Watkins explained that there was a reason he was celebrating in front of his former supporters: Someone had insulted him during the game.
“I have nothing but respect for the Brentford supporters, I love the club, but there was one individual who insulted me throughout the game – personal attacks that footballers should not have to deal with. “You can joke, but this was no joke, hence my celebration,” Watkins said.
Aston Villa announced in a post on X in connection with the statement that they have “zero tolerance for insults in football” and that the matter should be investigated by the English authorities.