Football

Paul Merson nails Wayne Hennessey's ridiculous 'Nazi defence' with Troy Deeney ban comment


Watford this week failed in their appeal to overturn Troy Deeney’s three-match ban following his sending off against Arsenal.

Deeney was dismissed after a clash with Lucas Torreira early on during Monday night’s 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets skipper duly sat out the win over Huddersfield on Saturday, and will also miss their next two Premier League matches

But ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson feels that, despite Deeney’s dismissal for violent conduct and the fact that the ban was always unlikely to be overturned with the FA always keen to back officials, Watford were right to attempt to get Deeney off.

The reason? Wayne Hennessy’s incredible defence regarding Nazi Germany which saw him escape an FA ban.

Hennessey was cleared for this pose

Hennessey was cleared of making an offensive gesture by an FA panel earlier this month after he was pictured with his right arm in the air and left hand above his mouth.

But the FA this week revealed that the 32-year-old did not know what a Nazi salute was – and claimed he showed a “lamentable degree of ignorance” about Hitler, fascism and the Nazi regime.

And Merson believes that that incredible defence and the subsequent lack of action, has opened the FA up to appeals.

Deeney saw red and was handed a three-game ban for this

Regarding Deeley’s ban, Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, declared: “You might as well appeal it. You might as well is you’re not getting an extra game.

“If that lad [Hennessey] is going in saying he doesn’t know who Hitler is, then you’ve got every chance.

“He could’ve said ‘I’ve tickled him’. If he was in after him, he could have got away with that”.

Merson’s comments open up an interesting point

Eagles boss Hodgson said on the Hennessey situation this week: “I don’t know whether I should be shocked or not. What I do know is that now this matter has come to light, it is very clear what needs to be done.

“I think it is a question sometimes of things coming to light that you maybe have taken for granted that you maybe shouldn’t have taken for granted.

“I think we have a responsibility with regards to all matters of racism and prejudice.

“I would guess that this might be a subject which goes beyond one individual, we might be highlighting with Wayne that it’s actually rife throughout football.

“Together the club and Kick It Out we will sort it out, certainly where Wayne’s concerned because he is actually very desperate now to learn as much as he can.

“He has spoken to us and he has made it very clear that it is something that interests him. He is desperate to learn more. I know certainly we will be looking into it.”

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