FA contacts bookmakers over John Terry substitution bets

The English Football Association (FA) is looking into John Terry’s early substitution on Sunday which triggered at least two four-figure pay-outs at Paddy Power.

Terry was subbed off in the 26^th minute of his final Premier League game for Chelsea on Sunday to enable players and fans to pay tribute to the former England captain’s career.

The move was apparently pre-planned by Chelsea and agreed to by both teams, with opponents Sunderland obliging by kicking the ball out of play at the start of the 26^th minute – Terry wears the number 26 shirt.

The timing of the substitution is thought to have cost Paddy Power several thousand pounds, after the operator offered Terry to be substituted in the 26^th minute at 100/1 via its #WhatOddsPaddy promotion on Twitter.

Three punters got on at that price, with one punter winning £2,500 and another £1,000.

But the fact the move was pre-planned has prompted further investigation from the FA, which confirmed to EGR Intel it had asked betting companies for any relevant information on the matter.

The FA is presumably investigating any wrongdoing on the football end, i.e whether players had passed information to bettors about what was going to happen.

The Gambling Commission told EGR Intel it was unable to talk about individual cases – including whether an investigation was taking place.

Paddy Power appeared to be taking the matter lightly, saying in a statement: “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 pulled our pants down at odds of 100/1.

“To be honest the only mistake here is we should have clocked sooner there’d be another cringe worthy Chelsea send-off for JT.”

The incident is reminiscent of ‘Piegate’, when Sutton reserve goalkeeper Wayne Lincoln ate a pie live on TV after alerting friends they could wager on it through Sun Bets.