hectors house Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 A few seem to think this is no big deal as it was only a throw-in. I'm afraid I don't agree, in my mind there's no grey area here - he was cheating. I guess you'll say it was only the bookies but that's not the point, what about the other punters who also had a bet on the first throw-in not realising the players were fixing it? From another angle what if the ref had been the one fixing it and deliberately gave the first throw-in to the other side - I'm sure he would be hung, drawn and quartered. I'm not suggesting MLT should be locked up for this but it's ceratainly nothing to be proud of and I thnk he is daft to be admitting it, if any action is taken against him then he will not get my sympathy.
alpine_saint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Hmmmm, I presume that he took legal advice prior to publicly admitting this as I wonder if the F.A./F.L. could gain some mileage from it. FA have already said no action will be taken because he is already out of the game
St Landrew Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Mirror: The revelation will shock fans who see Le Tiss as a hero who saved the club from relegation. And we still do. This honest and frank admission makes not a jot of difference to me.
SO16_Saint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Mirror: The revelation will shock fans who see Le Tiss as a hero who saved the club from relegation. And we still do. This honest and frank admission makes not a jot of difference to me. Agree completely St Landrew. He is, and always will be a hero in my eyes. That being said, he wasn't right for doing it, far from it.
Hatch Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I bought the time of the first throw on in that game, his actions could have cost me a thousand quid.
beatlesaint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Mirror: The revelation will shock fans who see Le Tiss as a hero who saved the club from relegation. Indeed.....nothing like a typical journalists soundbite is it ? So he tried to kick the ball out for a throw in and failed...........oh brother !
Lets B Avenue Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I suspect Vinnie Jones' booking after 6 seconds falls into the same category.
Fat Freddys Cat Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Gary Neville seems to have spent half his career hoofing the ball straight out from kick off
Colinjb Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Footballer in temptation shocker. Just glad he learnt his lesson at the beginning.
Saint_Ash Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Footballer in temptation shocker. Just glad he learnt his lesson at the beginning. Exactly!! Be a different story if he'd managed to get it out and made the 10G's! He would've been hungry for more and probably would've seen his career down the pan and his whole future more than likely! I blame the club for not giving him decent wages in the first place!
VectisSaint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Ah who cares, the bloke likes a bet and it was harmless that he bet on a throw-in in the first minute. If I had the chance to influence the outcome of a bet I made, well bloody hell I'd do it and then some! Of course, admitting it in a book is another issue but the acutal bet - yeh I can foresee I thread of 400 posts about sweet fa really. Clearly you have not read the book. The bloke does not like a bet, thats the whole point. He says this was the one and only time. It is also quite clear from the book that Matt was involved but he was only one of those involved, seemingly everyone but Shipps. Purely coincidentally I read this chapter last night. This is a non-issue, it is not match-fixing (putting a ball out for a throw does not constitute match fixing), and just highlights what stupid things Bookies do to try to make money (and that there are stupid people who place bets on this). What people should be more concerned about is whether there are still stupid things like this going on, I suspect from what little I know that there aren't, although I was surprised when talking to a guy working on my house recently some of the bets that can be placed while a game is in progress, and the seemingly easy ways to make money. I dislike intensely this whole betting culture with regard to football/spread bets but anyone who thinks that MLT is tainted because of this one silly event many years ago clearly is barking.
Mr X Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Not trying to defend his actions it was definitely morally wrong. But i sort of respect his decision to admit to it, couldnt have been an easy decision, far worse stuff than this goes on in the game today. He made a past mistake knew it was wrong has admitted it and that shold be the end of it. We shouldn't let one mistake ruin a reputation surely?
forever a red and white Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 shame really, not the first unethcial thing i jave heard about Le Tiss. He should be remebered for the good he did on the pitch though
WestSaint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Exactly!! Be a different story if he'd managed to get it out and made the 10G's! He would've been hungry for more and probably would've seen his career down the pan and his whole future more than likely! I blame the club for not giving him decent wages in the first place! If he had manageD to get it out and made the 10G'S it probably would not have been in his book !!
MatthewStiles Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 They've been talking about this on TalkSport. Mike Parry is making a song and dance of it. Andy Townsend is saying that Matt was foolish but keeping it a bit more in perspective, pointing out that it was a common tactic to boot the ball out of play and then pressure the other team up in their half and that he was sure that a lot of this spread betting was going on. IMO Matt was out of order and I was very surprised to see it in the book. By the way, in the book you will see that it was Gordon Watson who organised the scam.
Thedelldays Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I posted about this when I read it on his book thread on here.. very much let down
Junior Mullet Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Big deal. In a completely different league to match-fixing etc. Anyone that thinks Matt is saintly and whiter than white is a fool. He's just an ordinary bloke with a talent for football. Most people in his shoes at that time would have done the same.
Pancake Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Big deal. In a completely different league to match-fixing etc. Anyone that thinks Matt is saintly and whiter than white is a fool. He's just an ordinary bloke with a talent for football. Most people in his shoes at that time would have done the same. Ahh, the old "everyone else is doing it, so why cant I" line. I wouldn't have done, it is morally and legally incorrect.
Colinjb Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Ahh, the old "everyone else is doing it, so why cant I" line. I wouldn't have done, it is morally and legally incorrect. I don't wish to sound like I am questioning your integrity here, but it is so easy to say that. If we had been in the situation of 'make 10k by just conceeding a throw in' I bet it is something that would make you think twice. From the outside looking in it's easy to say no way, but if you where actually in his shoes I would suspect it would not be so clear cut.
rallyboy Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 he's been a dim boy on this one. No legal problem for the publishers, just the guy who has confessed to the offence, and it is an offence. Having said that if they couldn't convict the keeper who blatantly dived over and around three Everton goal attempts in quick succession all those years ago then there is no point in trying any players on lesser charges. Unless it's Eduardo of course - he can be banged up while all the worse offenders are left to dive freely. 'Portly keeper with poor judgement fails to get ball and allows shrewd player to fall over him shock'.
Seaford Saint Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I would have kept quiet about this if it was me.
up and away Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Big deal. In a completely different league to match-fixing etc. Anyone that thinks Matt is saintly and whiter than white is a fool. He's just an ordinary bloke with a talent for football. Most people in his shoes at that time would have done the same. It was stupid enough to do it in the first place, but subsequently admitting it in public takes that stupidity to another level. For your sake Matty, just restrict your comments to the playing side of football. Your only real source of income lies in that Sky contract. Any business venture would be the equivalent of an OAP, complete with a letter from the Queen, negotiating with a pikey for getting his drive relaid. Matty is not the only one and the environment that is football just seems to nurture and breed these idiotics. You only have to look at the gains and losses of the original act and ask any sane individual would they risk so much for so little? Reminds me of George Graham living in the bubble that is football, such he took that as the norm, only to find out the truth once he had opened his mouth.
Pancake Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I don't wish to sound like I am questioning your integrity here, but it is so easy to say that. If we had been in the situation of 'make 10k by just conceeding a throw in' I bet it is something that would make you think twice. From the outside looking in it's easy to say no way, but if you where actually in his shoes I would suspect it would not be so clear cut. Colin, thats an understandable assumption to make, no offense taken. Let me put it this way. MLT was on, I believe, 4k a week at the time. Now, the 10k he would have won would be about 2.5 weeks money. Using that, a similar scenario would be to offer me £3 to pull off something 'dodgy' but minor at my work. If you consider what could have happened to MLT if he had been caught at the time, the pay off is nowhere near enough to warrant the risk. Im not saying I wouldnt have thought twice about it, Im human after all with a family to look after; but I still think that when you bring inthe risk, morals and legality of it, I would have turned the chance down.
Gemmel Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 For your sake Matty, just restrict your comments to the playing side of football. Your only real source of income lies in that Sky contract. .................And a book, which has just been boosted with national publicity. Don't write him of as stupid, as mentioned before, I'm sure this was a very deliberate inclusion.
INFLUENCED.COM Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Disappointed he has chosen to declare this, is it naievity or sensationalising to increase sales ? either way he has attempted to financially gain from illegal activity, who cares if it is done "en masse" so is house burglary, it does demonstrate poor judgement on his part and imo is far more sinister than his involvement with Pinnacle, its not on par with Grobbelaar et al, Maradona and any other publicised sport cheats, others associated will, I assume, be disappointed it has 'come out'. That said....still consider him a Southampton Legend
Secret Site Agent Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2619556/Matt-Le-Tissier-bungled-throw-in-wager.html Oh dear could be a legal problem though :- Andrew Lyman, of the Association of British Bookmakers, said: "His actions could constitute a conspiracy to defraud." Not to defend him, It was a stupid thing to do in the first place, and a FURTHER stupid thing to admit it, but wouldn't the charge be 'time barred' now?
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I would have kept quiet about this if it was me. You've not got a book to promote then I take it.....?
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 A different angle.... It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if the publishers took one read of the manuscript and said: "Matty, not enough intrigue in here mate.....needs something to spice it up....any ideas....?" Matt: "Hmmmm.....how about this.....I almost got involved in a spread betting 'scam' once upon a time but decided not to go along with it....how does that sound?" Publisher: "Nah, still not sensational enough....how about we say that you did try it out for one game but it didn't work out? That's enough to keep you out of trouble (just) but will rile a few people in the media and on the messageboards across the land....et voila....mega sales...." Matt: "oh, go on then....you're the experts" All pretty straight forward
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 .................And a book, which has just been boosted with national publicity. Don't write him of as stupid, as mentioned before, I'm sure this was a very deliberate inclusion. What he said. Mission accomplished. Shrewd bloke is our MLT
Winchester Exile Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 For all he has done for us he is beyond criticism for me. He can do no wrong. He is simply the greatest player ever pull on a Saints shirt. And some of you lot sound like right sanctimonious (look it up) w*****s.
Kaiser Soze Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 So what? I couldn't give a flying f//k. Matt is our hero and always should be.
The9 Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 (edited) not as bad as brucey story but not good. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Southampton-star-Matt-Le-Tissier-admits-he-was-part-of-failed-10k-bet-fix-article142265.html LOL, the whole Wimbledon team was at exactly the same "scam" for a while and no-one seemed to mind that when the news came out about 10 years ago... EDIT : Oops, my mistake, the throw-in "scam" was first noticed in May 1997, as noted at the end of this Dec 1997 article about far more serious stuff : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/39045.stm Either way, not important, hundreds of teams always whack it straight off the pitch upfield anyway, serves the bookies right for running a book on it. Then again William Hill ran a book on who was going to be the WWE Champion once, and that's always been predetermined. Edited 3 September, 2009 by The9
Chez Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I have to say that I am very dissapointed. No matter how irrelevant it is to the final result he should have his mind focused purely on winning the match.
SFKA South Woodford Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 I wonder if thats why we kicked off every week by booting it down to the corner flag and having 3 players chasing after it? think it was souness era though could be wrong Still happening, I think you'll find we still kick off and immediatly hit the ball out to the right wing, usually straight out of play!
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 (edited) I have to say that I am very dissapointed. Even if it transpires that the story has been "made-up" and/or embellished to increase book sales? Given the book's been out for a week or so now, without a murmor in the national media, it wouldn't surprise me either if it transpires that the publisher has given the national press a prod this week to alert them to this 'sensational' chapter in his book. Just a theory. Edited 3 September, 2009 by trousers
Ponty Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Even if it transpires that the story has been "made-up" and/or embellished to increase book sales? Is that scenario actually any more noble?
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Is that scenario actually any more noble? Neither are 'noble' per se, but I'd say 'betting scam' is slightly less noble than 'economical with truth in autobiography' on the noble-ometer
Mase Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Doesn’t bother me one bit. He wasn’t cheating the fans, his team mates, his opponents or anything like that. He was cheating a massively rich betting company. Big deal.
The9 Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Doesn’t bother me one bit. He wasn’t cheating the fans, his team mates, his opponents or anything like that. He was cheating a massively rich betting company. Big deal. He wasn't even cheating them, they chose to take the bet from someone in a position to influence the result of it...
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 He was cheating a massively rich betting company. Steady....people on here will start blaming him for the credit crunch and death of capitalism if you're not careful.....
Mase Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 He wasn't even cheating them, they chose to take the bet from someone in a position to influence the result of it... Good call. So what is all the fuss about?
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Good call. So what is all the fuss about? I think it may have something to do with knees jerking and Internet messageboards.
OldNick Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Is MLT out to totally tarnish his name, not only with us but the wider football audience? A neutral will undoutably think 'well he owned up to that one, but what others did he carry out that he hasn't owned up to?' How about the ridiculous sending off against liverpool live on Sky. Remember that 2nd tackle on Babb? Of course it was innocent but you wouldnt be surprised if people now go back looking at certain incidents and jump to conclusion. His actions IMO have not been of a shrewd judge but someone very naive.We have that talk where it was to raise money, I cant remember the details but it was a year or so ago it was seminar or something like that.Then of course Pinnacle with his friends and now this.
Chez Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 (edited) Even if it transpires that the story has been "made-up" and/or embellished to increase book sales? so more of a fibber than scammer? Can't see why MLT would mention it or allow it to be included unless it was totally accurate. Graham Hiley wouldn't make it up either. Making money by defrauding the bookies and then making money telling the world about it seems a very strange thing to do by a man happier to stay in Soton than to follow the available cash. Edited 3 September, 2009 by Chez
OldNick Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 He wasn't even cheating them, they chose to take the bet from someone in a position to influence the result of it... I very much doubt that the bookie took a bet straight from a player, it would have been done by a third party
benjii Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Colin, thats an understandable assumption to make, no offense taken. Let me put it this way. MLT was on, I believe, 4k a week at the time. Now, the 10k he would have won would be about 2.5 weeks money. Using that, a similar scenario would be to offer me £3 to pull off something 'dodgy' but minor at my work. If you consider what could have happened to MLT if he had been caught at the time, the pay off is nowhere near enough to warrant the risk. Im not saying I wouldnt have thought twice about it, Im human after all with a family to look after; but I still think that when you bring inthe risk, morals and legality of it, I would have turned the chance down. You should ask for a pay-rise.
Barfy Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Headlines that won't be appearing on SSN or a tabloid: "Football in grubby financial dealings shocker" "Human being taking a chance at picking up a big windfall scandal" To be honest, what Matt did in the other 89 minutes of that game and the other 450 odd games in a Saints shirt is where I'll judge him thanks. The only thing I hope comes from this is he adds another few % to his sales figures, with the help of our whiter than white national media.
trousers Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 Is MLT out to totally tarnish his name, not only with us but the wider football audience? No. HTH
Chez Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 He wasn't even cheating them, they chose to take the bet from someone in a position to influence the result of it... did he personally place the bet?
OldNick Posted 3 September, 2009 Posted 3 September, 2009 No. HTH You wont find a stronger supporter of MLT a footballer than me.I feel he is ditrying his name for a few more quid.Not a nice picture IMO
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