Concern has been expressed after a bookmaker paid out thousands of pounds to three punters who wagered on the specific time of Chelsea captain John Terry’s first-half substitution against Sunderland at 100-1.
Paddy Power accepted the bets on Terry being substituted between 26:00 and 26:59 in Sunday’s Premier League match, his last as a Chelsea player at Stamford Bridge.
The relegated Black Cats were aware of the orchestrated plan, which Terry has said was his idea, and the Premier League is understood to be relaxed about the matter, which did not contravene its rules.
⚡️ An emotional day yesterday… #CaptainLeaderLegend https://t.co/gKhqaFqLwa— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 22, 2017
Press Association Sport has spoken to two customers of Paddy Power, who won £2,500 and £1,000 respectively.
One punter who attended the game predicted something similar regarding Terry and made an enquiry with Paddy Power before placing a £25 bet on the phone.
The punter, who wished to remain anonymous, told Press Association Sport: “We thought maybe 10-1, 15-1 at most as there was a precedent set (by Drogba’s substitution). I consider myself relatively lucky.”
Captain. Leader. Legend. ????#ChelseaChampions pic.twitter.com/3YUSqPVSPz— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 21, 2017
Another punter said he opened an account with Paddy Power in order to place the bet, which was only possible to do over the phone.
The Chelsea fan was not watching the game, but says he put on a £10 stake and received his winnings in his account on Monday.
“I only put money on this because I thought this is surely going to come in,” said the punter, who wished to remain anonymous.
The captain with the boss. #ChelseaChampions pic.twitter.com/RtuOdxhBID— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 21, 2017
“I don’t normally bet. It’s only the second time I’ve ever placed a bet. I was surprised the odds were that high.”
The Football Association is yet to comment on the matter but Press Association Sport understands there has been communication with betting companies, with the national governing body requesting any relevant information.
There is no suggestion that the decision to substitute Terry was anything other than an attempt by Chelsea to give their long-serving captain a farewell to remember in front of the club’s supporters.
Full-time: Chelsea 5-1 Sunderland!
John Terry's final game at Stamford Bridge ends in three points for the champions! #CHESUN pic.twitter.com/rXxk6c4Seg— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 21, 2017
However, independent sport integrity commentator Chris Eaton says bookmakers should have been warned ahead of the orchestrated move.
“If the manipulation of play to create the substitution and honouring opportunity was officially sanctioned, no problem except that the sport bookmakers should have been warned and could have avoided losses,” Eaton, a former head of security at FIFA and former head of operations at INTERPOL, told Press Association Sport.
“There should be no unsanctioned manipulation of the free flow of competition permitted by the rules of the game. Play and competition without fail should be honest, clean and earnest.”
FA rules regarding match-fixing state that: “Fixing is arranging in advance the result or conduct of a match or competition, or any event within a match or competition.”
Press Association Sport spoke to gambling industry experts who were surprised a market was in place for the bet.
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