One of the big moments of the final Premier League weekend was John Terry’s 26th-minute substitution in his final league appearance for Chelsea on the weekend. The pre-planned substitution, which happened in the 26th minute to match Terry’s squad number, has seen bookmaker Paddy Power pay out to three punters on the specific time of Terry’s substitution in the match.
It has been reported that Paddy Power accepted the wagers on Terry being substituted between 26:00 and 26:59 in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Sunderland. Sunderland was aware of the plans, which had all been the idea of John Terry himself.
Paddy Power said in a statement to Press Association Sport on Monday: “We replied to a novelty request for odds on John Terry’s substitution – one of hundreds on the Chelsea game – and fair play to the three punters who were on at odds of 100-1.
Two of the customers won £2,500 and £1,000 respectively while the other was a punter who attended the game and predicted the outcome, making an enquiry with Paddy Power before placing a £25 bet on the phone.
The punter, who wished to remain anonymous stated’: “We thought maybe 10-1, 15-1 at most as there was a precedent set (by Drogba’s substitution).” While one of the other punters said “I was surprised the odds were that high.”
Now the FA has set about asking betting companies involved in any payout on John Terry’s substation, for information on bets that they received for it. FA rules on match fixing state: “Fixing is arranging in advance the result or conduct of a match or competition or any event within a match or competition.
“Fixing is prohibited and is treated very seriously.”
There has been no suspicion over John Terry, of Chelsea for the substitution, as it was just a gesture made by them to give their long-standing captain a big send off. There was a precedent for this as Chelsea literally carried Didier Drogba off the pitch in his final game for them, which was actually midway through the first half of a game against Sunderland a couple of years ago.
Terry’s 26th-minute substitution was all over social media prior to the game, being forecast by the Chelsea fanzine editor.
