Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts

Anthony Knockaert dived to win a penalty against Watford and had his spot-kick saved in 2013 (Image: Getty)

Former Leicester City winger Anthony Knockaert has snapped and hit out at Watford fans after being taunted for years over his penalty miss during the 2013 Championship play-offs - before Troy Deeney's winner. Knockaert launched a furious rant on social media this week, ridiculing Watford and its supporters.

Knockaert, now 32 and retired, has been mercilessly mocked by the Vicarage Road faithful for over a decade since Leicester were defeated there in dramatic circumstances. With the score tied at 2-2 on aggregate in the semi-final, the Frenchman appeared to dive in the box in the 97th minute, controversially being awarded a penalty.

He was keen to take the penalty himself, aiming for the centre, but was sensationally denied by Manuel Almunia. The Spaniard also saved Knockaert's follow-up attempt before Watford raced to the other end of the pitch, where Jonathan Hogg nodded the ball down for Troy Deeney to blast into the net.

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Knockaert was inconsolable at full-time after missing his penalty (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)

The goal and its commentary have become part of football folklore in the years since Watford's thrilling victory - and the Vicarage Road faithful have never let Knockaert forget his part in it. But it seems the former Leicester man has had enough of the trolling, lashing out at Watford fans on Instagram by branding them "clowns" and slamming the way the club has been run.

Knockaert unleashed a scathing verbal tirade about Watford, saying: "You all that stupid that you are even writing this like you made it. How to describe Watford Football Club???

"You [sic] all that stupid that you are even writing this like you made it. How to describe Watford Football Club??? Unstable club that has 6 different managers per season... So please enjoy your life and leave me alone for once..."

Troy Deeney won the play-off game for Watford immediately after the penalty miss (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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His strange outburst was met with further jibing from Hornets supporters, with one tweeting: “Anthony Knockaert has completely lost it... the blokes put a statement out about the Deeney goal that happened 11 years ago." Another mockingly wrote: "11 years on and getting rattled," along with laughing face emojis.

Knockaert's encounters with Watford were marked by hostile chants for the remainder of his career, which included spells at Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Huddersfield Town. Of those nine matches after the play-off clash, he was scythed down by Miguel Britos in 2017, who earned a red card for the vicious challenge.

The French wideman didn’t have to wait long to get his revenge following Deeney’s famous winner, however. Just six months later, he scored a goal in Leicester’s 3-0 away victory over Watford. The 32-year-old announced his retirement last month after failing to help keep Valenciennes in the French second-tier.

Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts

Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts

Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts

Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts

Anthony Knockaert loses it and furiously rips into Watford after years of Deeney taunts