The Metropolitan Police have approached Aston Villa for information about alleged abuse directed at Ollie Watkins during Sunday’s win at his former club Brentford.
Watkins, who was at Brentford between 2017 and 2020, scored the winner against the Bees and celebrated by pointing and cheering sarcastically at a Brentford supporter.
Watkins said: "It was a bit of a feisty game. It all spurred from my celebrations when I scored, but that’s not down to lack of respect for the Brentford fans.
"There was one individual that was abusing me all game, so I felt it was only right that I celebrated in front of him. It wasn’t to anyone else, but it’s just directed mainly to him. That caused a bit of a reaction for the last 15 minutes."
Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who managed Watkins when he was at the club, spoke to the England striker after full-time.
Ollie Watkins' celebration for his winner against Brentford led to an on-pitch scuffle, but he says it was directed solely at 'one individual that had been giving me abuse all game'.#BBCFootball #BREAVL pic.twitter.com/2QyVmLEF8b
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 17, 2023
Watkins revealed: "[Frank] said, ‘Why did you celebrate like that?’. I’m still on texting terms with Thomas. I still speak to him on the phone. And it’s because of that reason — it’s because of that guy giving me stick all game.
“I felt like I’ve done so much for the club. Football is football — you can have a bit of banter — but not when it’s personal and when it’s saying the things that he did. Everyone was shouting my name, calling me all sorts of abuse around the stadium, but it was because of him [that I celebrated that way].”
Asked whether he would be reporting the alleged abuse, Watkins added: “If they don’t believe me then that’s up to them. But, yeah, I’ve explained that to Thomas and he knows that I wouldn’t just go and celebrate for no reason. The guy obviously agitated me, and I’ve reacted like that.”
Aston Villa released a statement after the match, which said: “Aston Villa wants to express its support for Ollie Watkins and with the utmost respect for the big majority of Brentford fans and for the club, we ask the authorities to investigate this incident to find this individual. Zero tolerance to abuse in football.”
Standard Sport understands the Metropolitan Police is now in communication with Aston Villa in order to receive more details about the incident. Brentford have declined to comment at this stage.
