Piegate

Discuss matters to do with anything football related
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rechitski kinzhal
Posts: 140
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:24 pm

If a bookmaker was silly enough to open a book on me eating a pie today, surely I would be only normal if I told all my friends to put money on it as I would definitely be eating a pie today!
If a bookmaker was silly enough to open a book on there being a throw-in within 10 seconds of a game in which I was involved then it would be natural for me to boot it off given half a chance.
If a bookmaker was silly enough to open a book on the next manager of a club of which I was owner then again could I be blamed for telling friends who he would be before the announcement?
Dishonest? Well maybe, but surely the bookmakers can not expect anything else if they make such silly books. And anyway "Piegate" was merely a marketing ploy by the bookmaker.
Surely, if the bookies want to make such silly bets, they have to be prepared to pay out. This is totally different from "throwing a match", in which one or a number of people are attempting to influence a game in which others are not aware. Surely betting has to be based on matters of "chance" - if the bookies want to make stupid bets, that is there problem.
Justice for the role poly goalie!
NBDag
Posts: 1227
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:22 pm

This has nothing to do with Sun Bets paying out. They almost certainly encouraged him to eat the pie, irrespective of what he claimed after. They've gained loads of exposure which is exactly what they wanted.

What you said about the throw-in thing, is true. You could and probably get away with it too. However if they had enough evidence to suspect you're fixing the outcome of a bet you will be investigated. It's just that in that instance it's such a common part of the game it's hard to distinguish between normal play and bet fixing.

The reason he was being investigated (from what I've read) is because his involvement in this stunt can be seen as bet/match fixing and bringing the game into disrepute. Although this didnt effect the result of the match, I'd assume that they'd have to be consistent with their investigations otherwise further down the line there could be some form of precedent for someone to get off with doing something much more serious. It's all a bit tedious but I guess in the grand scheme of things it needs to be done.
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Mike the Dagger
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Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:09 am
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This ws 100% a publicity stunt.

I presume SunBets were the only bookie offering odds on this event? And SunBets "bought" the Sutton shirt sponsorship for the game? And therefore the gentleman in question was pretty much 100% going to know that there were odds available, and no doubt so did his mates, who probably supplied the pie at the requisite moment.

Did it effect the game? Not one bit.

Was it silly? Yes.

Is this a storm in a teacup? Completely!

This should be on SunBets though, more than anyone else. take away their license, that'll sort it out.
steeevooo
Posts: 279
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:41 am

Mike the Dagger wrote:I presume SunBets were the only bookie offering odds on this event?
Of course they were!

As you say, it was absolutely a publicity stunt (as you'd expect from The Sun) and in the grand scheme of things it was piffle, but it should still have ramifications. Sun Bets should be having their licence reviewed (I believe this might be the case anyway), and whilst it was "a bit of a laugh" etc, that does not excuse the fact that insider trading is an activity that has (and rightly so) ramifications. Yes, I know that having insider knowledge on somebody eating a pie when odds are being offered on it is not the greatest, most heinous crime, but the point is that it sets a precedent if it is to be completely overlooked.

It's unfortunate that the man in question got so carried away with the situation, the publicity and the money, but it is still totally correct that his actions should be investigated, no matter how trifling they appear.
NBDag
Posts: 1227
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2015 10:22 pm

Incredibly poetic in Sutton's game right now. Their keeper has gone off injured and they didn't have a replacement for him, so they now have an outfield player in goal.
TomMc
Posts: 207
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:38 pm

NBDag wrote:Incredibly poetic in Sutton's game right now. Their keeper has gone off injured and they didn't have a replacement for him, so they now have an outfield player in goal.
They don't choose a goalkeeper on the bench for league games so it's completely irrelevant.
Paul from Barking
Posts: 380
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:59 pm

Rooney ate all the pies
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