Tuesday 29 October 2013

Should Professional Gamblers Own Football Clubs?

                           When Is A Goal Not A Goal? When The Betting Market Says So!

Last night, Watford's Fernando Forestieri was denied a goal at Brighton when the ball had clearly crossed the line.
The "mistake" by referee Keith Hill and his assistant prevented Watford taking all three points from the match.

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola was not a happy man: ""Everyone has seen it apart from the referee and the officials. That is the disappointing part – the goal did not happen in a crowded area, there was only the player, the ball and the line and it has not been seen."

Forestieri also had a clear penalty decision turned down by Hill. 

The interesting part, however, is what happened next and the background to the match.

We are helping Sunderland manager Gus Poyet in his legal action for wrongful dismissal against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Poyet was dismissed for his reaction to somebody spreading excrement around the Crystal Palace dressing room in last season's Championship Play Off Semi Final between the teams.
For background see: http://footballisfixed.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/when-shit-hits-fans-implosion-of.html

Poyet, with the support of  Richard Bevan of the League Managers' Association, is not only claiming wrongful dismissal but is also looking into the professional gambling activities of Brighton owner, Tony Bloom.

Bloom, a former bookmaker, used to contact Poyet asking for inside information on matches where Gus had links.
So there would be phonecalls asking Poyet to contact, say, Roberto di Matteo about team selections and tactics which might impact upon Bloom's trading in the underground betting markets in Thailand. Or asking Gus to phone Diego Forlan for inside information on Inter Milan games.
Poyet to his credit always refused.

The televised match last night had a non-public background.
For Watford are owned by the Pozzo family who also take an interest in betting on the underground markets.

We have been informed this morning that some Watford players are suggesting that money changed hands.
We are not able to comment on who allegedly paid such monies nor who was in receipt but there was considerable insider betting on the match in both directions.

The Championship...
... a club owned by a gambling family and sponsored by an Asian bookmaker, 138.com, are denied a legitimate goal and a penalty against a club owned by one of the biggest European insider gamblers in a very active betting market.

We will be chatting to Mr Poyet later today!

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