Unlikely Events
The police and football authorities moved swiftly the other day - to arrest ten men in connection with irregular betting at a Scottish football match.
The alleged irregularity involves a Motherwell football player - with strong connections to the Liverpool area - who was sent off the field of play after the referee showed him a straight red card.
Nothing mysterious in that you might say - happens all the time.
And you'd be right - normally at least.
Except on this occasion several men from the Liverpool area - including Wayne Rooney's dad apparently - managed to predict (or bet) correctly that such and event would happen on that day - in that particular game.
The game in question being Motherwell vs Hearts - which took place on December 14 2011.
What's even more unusual is that the player sent off - was sent off for dissent shown towards the referee - which normally involves foul and abusive language - and/or a direct challenge to the referee's authority.
Two things are interesting about the red card offence.
Firstly, it is very rare for a player to be shown a straight red for such behaviour - more often than not a player is booked and shown a yellow card - for showing dissent towards a referee.
So what was said must have been really bad and provocative - because football referees are not exactly shrinking violets.
Secondly, it is one of the few types of behaviour - on a football field - that is completely under the player's control - only the player can decide whether or not to have a 'flaky' - it's nothing to do with luck or a mis-timed tackle.
In which case the evidence is mounting up against the Liver Lads - whom the police have been arrested - and released on bail - for conspiracy to defraud.
So things are not looking good for Wayne Rooney Senior, his eight betting colleagues - and the Motherwell player - Steve Jennings.
The obvious questions to be asking Wayne Rooney Senior and company are:
1 When did you last bet on a Scottish football game?
2 When did you last bet on a game involving Motherwell FC?
3 When did you last bet on a player being sent off?
4 How do you explain the same bet being laid by eight of your friends - on the same day - in the same match?
The odds on nine people betting correctly on such an event happening in a specific football Scottish match - independently of each other - must be greater than my chances of winning the National Lottery tonight.
The alleged irregularity involves a Motherwell football player - with strong connections to the Liverpool area - who was sent off the field of play after the referee showed him a straight red card.
Nothing mysterious in that you might say - happens all the time.
And you'd be right - normally at least.
Except on this occasion several men from the Liverpool area - including Wayne Rooney's dad apparently - managed to predict (or bet) correctly that such and event would happen on that day - in that particular game.
The game in question being Motherwell vs Hearts - which took place on December 14 2011.
What's even more unusual is that the player sent off - was sent off for dissent shown towards the referee - which normally involves foul and abusive language - and/or a direct challenge to the referee's authority.
Two things are interesting about the red card offence.
Firstly, it is very rare for a player to be shown a straight red for such behaviour - more often than not a player is booked and shown a yellow card - for showing dissent towards a referee.
So what was said must have been really bad and provocative - because football referees are not exactly shrinking violets.
Secondly, it is one of the few types of behaviour - on a football field - that is completely under the player's control - only the player can decide whether or not to have a 'flaky' - it's nothing to do with luck or a mis-timed tackle.
In which case the evidence is mounting up against the Liver Lads - whom the police have been arrested - and released on bail - for conspiracy to defraud.
So things are not looking good for Wayne Rooney Senior, his eight betting colleagues - and the Motherwell player - Steve Jennings.
The obvious questions to be asking Wayne Rooney Senior and company are:
1 When did you last bet on a Scottish football game?
2 When did you last bet on a game involving Motherwell FC?
3 When did you last bet on a player being sent off?
4 How do you explain the same bet being laid by eight of your friends - on the same day - in the same match?
The odds on nine people betting correctly on such an event happening in a specific football Scottish match - independently of each other - must be greater than my chances of winning the National Lottery tonight.
