Put a monkey on it - betting on football

You've seen the queues. Desperate men, waving bits of paper, screaming random numbers at each other. Nope, not the Stock Exchange, but the pokey stall on the stadium concourse... Men who have been putting a fiver on Lee Dixon to score first goal at 40/1 since the year dot; or those who believe that today is the day, when he can quit his job and live a life of luxury, yet still turn up on the terraces on a Saturday afternoon (or Sunday - see earlier blog!)

What's the attraction? Do we need an extra incentive to make a game that more exciting? Knowing full well that one goal, booking or throw in can make a difference is unpredictably brilliant sure, but for money as well?

And then... Players themselves get involved...

 Beppe celebrates his accumulator coming off

In the summer of 2011, it emerged that the latest betting scandal to affect football was to engulf Serie B in Italy, involving teams including Atalanta, Cremonese and Hellas Verona. The usual allegations were made, people being part of certain crime rings and owing money, but the most amazing thing was that Marco Paoloni of Benevento even went so far as to dope his former teammates in games. And for what? Pure greed? Infamy? Or just a belief that it was fine?

The most famous betting scandals in England involved a handful of players in the early 90s including Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar. He, along with John 'Awooga' Fashanu and Hans Segers, were charged with conspiring to corrupt after being caught out by the Sun newspaper. Although no specific matches were mentioned, he was ordered to pay £500,000 due to evidence of dishonesty. The first match after the allegations was for Southampton at home to Arsenal, and he was showered with fake £20 notes bearing the 'Bank of Grob'. Alas he also kept a clean sheet and watched a penalty from Paul Dickov reach orbit.

Bruce was nervous at the visit from the Police

Betting is fun. Betting is dangerous. Maybe that's why it's fun. It's a different beast from fantasy football or office sweepstakes. The fact that most big clubs have an affiliation with a betting company (what do we call them? Bookies? Turf accountants?) means that it's big business, and they want us to splash the cash, and even better, the clubs know that if you win, you're more likely to buy that new 4th choice keeper shirt for your kid, or the limited edition club cushion.

But we can't the corrupt few players or the mega-rich clubs ruin it for us... And next time we get an offer of a free bet, or see Ray Winstone's head floating in the air saying "Bet, naaaaaaaaaaaaah", just have a flutter - it could make that Europa League tie live from Andorra just that little bit sweeter...

Stick a ton on it you schlaggggggg

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