Mutiny at Watford saw Ben Foster FINED for ‘breaking promises’ about stopping YouTube blogs

Watford’s chairman has slammed their former goalkeeper Ben Foster for his ‘utterly wrong’ YouTube vlogs, and claims he was fined for continuing to produce them after promising to stop.

The 39-year-old launched the Cycling GK YouTube channel during the lockdown in 2020, offering fans who could not attend games due to the pandemic a look behind the scenes of training and matchdays as a professional footballer.

However, the former Manchester United shotstopper – who is a free agent after leaving Vicarage Road at the end of the season – continued to produce videos in 2021-22, including chest cams at Liverpool to film goalmouth action.

The 39-year-old launched the Cycling GK YouTube channel during the lockdown in 2020

A podcast was subsequently launched, with the Fozcast – The Ben Foster Podcast, being snapped up exclusively by Spotify. 

But the videos eventually began to cause friction between him and the relegated club’s hierarchy, with Foster fined for going back on a promise to stop filming. 

Speaking to the Watford Observer, chairman Scott Duxbury has revealed clauses will be inserted in player’s contracts to stop similar incidents occurring again.

‘I think some of the videos were disappointing,’ Duxbury said. 

‘Our sporting director, Cristiano Giaretta, met with Ben and asked him to stop. He promised he would, but he didn’t. He was fined.

‘We want a culture of excellence at Watford. Those videos were not that. 

He continued to produce videos in 2021-22, including chest cams to film goalmouth action

Scott Duxbury has claimed Foster broke a promise to stop making videos, and was later fined

‘I wanted to say publicly at the time that the videos were utterly wrong and we had fined the player and asked him to stop, but it just wasn’t something I could do.’

Sportsmail have approached Ben Foster’s representatives for comment. 

Duxbury also scolded former boss Roy Hodgson after he ignored Hornets fans when their relegation was sealed at Crystal Palace, instead blowing a kiss to the home fans at Selhurst Park.

The former England coach’s actions outraged the fanbase and that fury was not helped when the 74-year-old said after the 1-0 defeat that the visiting fans at Palace were ‘unfortunately a bit too far away’ to acknowledge.

Duxbury admitted that ‘words failed’ him after seeing what Hodgson had done, and also revealed he was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the veteran boss’ actions. 

Foster left the Hornets at the end of the season following their relegation to the Championship

Duxbury also scolded former boss Roy Hodgson after he ignored Hornets fans on the final day

‘I did try, after that had happened, to allude in my programme notes to things that had happened which were beyond my belief,’ Duxbury added.

‘Even if, as a person, your heart belongs at another club, you are still the coach of Watford. You’ve just finished a match which has seen you relegated and you ignore your own fans? No, you must go to your own fans and your own players. Words failed me.

‘I’ve known Roy for many years and I was surprised and disappointed, but I suppose we must accept, if not truly understand, his explanation.’

Hodgson confirmed in May he would leave the club at the end of the season and he has since been replaced by Rob Edwards.

The former Forest Green Rovers boss will be preparing to guide the Hornets back to the Premier League from the Championship at the first time of asking.

Hodgson confirmed in May he would leave and he has since been replaced by Rob Edwards