Football steward claims unfair dismissal after being sacked for calling Bristol City star Matty Taylor a “c***”
A STEWARD is claiming unfair dismissal after being sacked for posting a video in which he called a player a “c***”.
Mark Watson is a Bristol Rovers Fan but works at Bristol City.
Matty Taylor became the first player in 30 years to cross divide from Bristol Rovers to Bristol CityGetty Images
He made his X-rated comments about new City signing Matty Taylor but, much like Richard Keys infamously did, claimed the offending video was “just banter”.
Watson has worked at City’s Ashton Gate on a zero-hours contract for three years but has now been let go.
And he claims it is an infringement of his rights for the company to target his personal opinions.
Football steward Mark Watson is claiming unfair dismissal after he was sacked for posting an explicit videoSWNS:South West News ServiceMatty Taylor caused fan fury when he made the cross-Bristol switchPA:Press Association
Watson said: “It was banter, you see it a lot in the football community and I certainly wasn’t the only one with something to say that day.
“As far as I was concerned that video was only meant for my friends and family. My privacy settings are at the maximum on Facebook.”
Watson claims he was called by Ashton Gate owners, Bristol Sport, on January 2 and told he would no longer be asked to work at the games due to the video.
He also said his personal views do not impact on his work and feels the company has been too heavy-handed in their response.
The angry Rovers fan copied Richard Key’s infamous defence by saying the swearing on the video was ‘just banter’PA:Press AssociationMark Watson is claiming unfair dismissal after being sacked as a stewardSWNS:South West News Service
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He added: "I keep my personal and my professional lives separate and I never let the fact that I'm a gas-head affect my work at Ashton Gate.
''But in my private life I have the right to express opinions.
"I live in a democratic country where I have the freedom and right to make a video to circulate to my friends.
"If I had gone and published it on YouTube then I could understand they would say something, but I didn't."
Bristol Sport said it does not comment on private staffing matters, but did confirm Watson was employed as a casual worker at the ground.
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