I'm not sure anyone really came out of that looking good (though perhaps I’m doing a disservice to the Lewes players with that comment).
The Watford players definitely seemed to have an attitude problem, maybe there was some prior history with the referee? The long, drawn-out argument after the first red card leading to a sin bin, the toddler like tantrum over the DOGSO decision, and the throwing of corner flag—all pretty poor for a professional (?) set up.
The referee seemed intent on asserting his authority in all the wrong ways. He had a noticeable height advantage over the players and appeared to think that made it acceptable to approach the dismissed player in a confrontational manner. Some might argue I’m overthinking or exaggerating, but this is the kind of behavior that only serves to escalate a situation unnecessarily—kind of like invading the personal space of a drunk in a bar. While we didn’t hear the full exchange between him and the players, it seemed like he was far too eager to engage in long-winded debates, which only made things worse. I’m not suggesting the players were innocent, but it felt like the referee wasn’t doing much to de-escalate the tension.
And then the corner flag incident, was the cherry on the cake. Watching a footballer complain about the wet ground, only to then kick the puddle —definitely a moment of irony.
Anyone else feel like the pitch inspection may have been a big lacking? I doubt Wealdstone were happy with the condition it was left in.
