Knockaert calls Watford and fans 'clowns' in social outburst

The 32-year-old, who recently retired from playing, has been a subject of anger and ridicule among the Hornets faithful for more than a decade since he took a dive to earn a highly-controversial penalty in the Play-Off semi-final second leg at Vicarage Road in May 2013.

Knockaert insisted on taking the penalty himself, saw Watford keeper Manuel Almunia save it and the follow-up, and then could only watch as the Hornets broke down the other end and scored a decisive third goal.

That secured Watford's aggregate victory and took them to Wembley, while Knockaert was pictured in tears on the pitch surrounded by celebrating Hornets fans.

Troy Deeney’s strike and the Sky Sports commentary and reaction that accompanied it is one of the most famous football moments of recent times.

The words uttered by Sky’s Bill Leslie – “Here’s Hogg . . . Deeeeeneeeey” – have become immortalised while his next sentence (“Do not scratch your eyes”) spawned a Watford podcast.

Now it seems Knockaert’s patience and sense of humour has been pushed beyond his limit, as he posted an aggressive and insult-laden Instagram story late on Sunday night.

Anthony Knockaert's Instagram story, posted on Sunday night. (Image: Instagram)

“Ok, just to make it clear…you guys keep writing here’s Hoggg whatever! Listen your clowns” he wrote, adding a clown emoji.

“Without me you would of never experienced a playoff final in Wembley that you lost.”

He went on to add: “How to describe Watford Football Club??? Unstable club that has 6 different managers per season.”

His parting comment was: “So please enjoy your life and leave me alone for once.”

Anyone who doubted that Watford defender Marco Cassett’s featherlight touch in the penalty area which led to Knockaert hitting the deck was a foul would be interested to read the Frenchman’s Wikipedia page which says ‘in the 2013 Playoff semi-final second leg, with the aggregate scores level he dived to win a penalty for Leicester City deep into stoppage time’.

In its match report that day, the Daily Mail said ‘Michael Oliver was the official who ruled that Anthony Knockaert was fouled by Marco Cassetti — a decision which caused head-scratching in both camps.’

Knockaert was always the target of chants and cat-calls whenever he faced Watford during the rest of his career, and Hornets defender Miguel Britos was sent off for scything him down with a vicious tackle at Vicarage Road in 2017.

Britos issued a public apology afterwards, saying: “My timing was wrong but there are no excuses and I was very sad when I was in the dressing room.”

Knockaert played against Watford a total of nine times after that famous 2013 game, and scored in 3-0 win for Leicester at Vicarage Road less than six months later.

However, his social media outburst suggests he’s finally had enough of the banter and reminders that have lasted more than 10 years.