Goal Celebration For Ollie Watkins: Police To Contact Aston Villa And Brentford

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they will contact Aston Villa and Brentford to “discover more information” about Ollie Watkins’ goal celebration at the weekend.

Watkins scored in the 85th minute to give Villa a 2-1 victory over his former club at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The 27-year-old then stood in the back of the net, pointing at a home end supporter he claimed had verbally abused him.

“We are aware of the claims,” a police spokesperson said.Officers will make contact with officials at Aston Villa and Brentford to learn more.”

Watkins’ celebration sparked angry scenes, with a scuffle breaking out between the two sets of players inside the goalmouth.

Brentford’s Ben Mee was sent off in the 71st minute for a studs-up tackle on Leon Bailey, but that was far from the only incident.

Villa were then reduced to ten men as Boubacar Kamara received his marching orders, deep into added time.

“There was one individual who had been giving me abuse all game, from the first corner,” Watkins said in a statement.

“He’d been on me the entire game, saying personal things. I wasn’t racially abused, but he said a lot of things. ‘I’m going to get him back,’ I thought.

“It was directed at him, not anyone else at the stadium; I have a great deal of respect for the club, the people here, the owner, and the manager.” That’s what I told him as I was walking away.”

In a statement released on Sunday evening, Aston Villa expressed their support for their striker, calling for “zero tolerance to abuse in football.”

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins gestures to the Brentford fans after scoring his side’s second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday December 17, 2023.

“Aston Villa FC wants to express its support for Ollie Watkins,” said the club.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Bees manager Thomas Frank stated that he had no ill will toward the celebration.

“Ollie and I went to each other after the game,” he told me. “He said there was an issue with a fan.” “I know Ollie is a great guy with great integrity.”