South coast legend admits to cheeky spread betting swindle

In the season when Wimbledon FC suffered more than their fair share of inexplicable floodlight failures, The Spoiler was puzzled to see the Dons put the ball out of play straight after kick off on more than one occasion. The reason behind this apparent waste of possession has become clear, thanks to Matthew Le Tissier’s (awfully-titled) autobiography ‘Taking Le Tiss‘.

In a 2-0 victory over Wimbledon in April 1995, The Southampton legend admits that he took advantage of the emerging trend of spread betting, by placing a wager on the time of the first throw-on. If he could get the ball out of play within the first minute of the game, Le Tiss and a friend stood to make £10,000. Unfortunately, a tubby journeyman striker thwarted his plan:

“Southampton were safe from relegation and I couldn’t see a problem with making a few quid on the first throw-in.

“I went to hit it out towards Neil Shipperley but I was nervous and didn’t give it quite enough welly.

Midfielder walks the very fine line between cunning and cheating

In South Melbourne’s recent Victoria Premier League match with stupidly named Sunshine Georgies FC, Brazilian midfielder Fernando de Moraes courteously returned the ball to the opposing keeper after it was put out of play due to injury. Said courtesy didn’t last long, however, as the Brazilian proceeded to chase down his own throw and put in in the net.

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