PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Valon Behrami raged at an EFL fourth official during Watford’s defeat to Charlton.
The Hornets stumbled out of the blocks in the Championship as they lost their opening game to the newly promoted Addicks.
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Harvey Knibbs netted a last-gasp goal to give Nathan Jones’ side a fairytale return to the second tier.
The result could have been different if the visitors had been awarded a penalty a minute earlier after Thomas Kaminski brought down Nestory Irankunda.
Shouts for a spot kick from Watford fans and players were waved away by referee Stephen Martin.
The decision left the Hornets fuming, and nobody more so than former player and now assistant sporting director Behrami.
The former Switzerland star took centre stage as frustrated new manager Paulo Pezzolano reacted in a more restrained way, remaining seated on a pack of Carabao energy drinks.
Fans were taken aback by the moment as they reacted on social media.
One posted: “Never seen a non-coaching staff member as animated as Valon Behrami today.”
A second commented: “Some things never change haha.”
A third wrote: “He will be the new head coach in place by November.”
Behrami, 40, played for Watford for two seasons between 2015 and 2017.
He made 49 appearances for the Hornets without scoring a single goal, but was a popular figure for his tough-tackling, all-action style of play
The Kosovo-born star would leave everything on the pitch, including, in one match, a pile of sick, as he puked all over the pitch during the clash with Everton.
But it was West Ham that first brought him to the English shores back in 2008.
The Hammers signed the midfielder from Lazio for £5million and he became a key part of the team.
Behrami was as popular in the East End as Hertfordshire, but had his time there disrupted by injury as he suffered an ACL tear in 2009.
In total, he played 63 times for West Ham and scored five goals, including a winner against Sunderland in November 2008.
Between playing at Upton Park and Vicarage Road, he had spells at Fiorentina, Napoli and Hamburg.
After leaving England for the final time as a player, he played for Udinese, Sion, Genoa and Brescia before retiring in 2022.
Behrami was appointed as Watford’s assistant sporting director in July.
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