Is throwing a match cheating?

[Lost Soul]

Thwack!

+1

[simon_in_exile]

Arguably, Belgium were cheating, up until the goal - deliberately fouling to ensure that England went through on the fair play ticket. England could've ran with it - they were going through to play Japan on a draw anyway. The person who definitely wasn't cheating was Januazaj. Unless, of course, he was trying to miss but scored by mistake. Or figured the goalie would save it. Maybe Cahill wasn't cheating - he made a goaline save.

If England had rested 9 players like Belgium did, instead of 8, then it might be different

[Agent009]

Thwack!

+1

Out of no where, LS steps up for the nifty!
Well played, sir.

[Stephen_Dedalus]

I'm half hoping Pickford flapped at the ball on purpose.

But I am betting on he's a bit shit and flapped at the ball.

Which is why he plays for Everton.

[Lost Soul]

Thwack!

+1

Out of no where, LS steps up for the nifty!
Well played, sir.

It was ordained by G*d. I had just turned the stew on, and thought I would do a wellpisser check of the only contest still running.

[andybox]

It is cheating the spectators, live and TV, who pay for this whole show.

Bingo.

[mad hatter]

to be fair. i dont really give a fat rats about football.

[andybox]

Rashford and Wellbeck, deliberate misses. Glimpet called them both out on another thread, as did the half time commentary.

[Lincoln]

When did the Australian team arrive home Andy...must be a while ago, no?

[andybox]

Concentrate Lincoln, this is about England throwing a game in the World Cup.

[Lincoln]

I've been really disappointed with your posts of late Andybox....whats going on?

C'mon, tell yer old mate Lincoln and we'll get this thing sorted out...

[Stephen_Dedalus]

Australia has been in national mourning since a certain embarrassment on the sporting field in South Africa.

It's called lashing out.

Really quite pathetic behaviour.

I hope they get some dignity soon.

[Stephen_Dedalus]

Andybox obviously thinks Colombia is easier opposition to Japan

Andybox's assessment of what is difficult opposition is a bit shaky at best.

Andybox forecast Australia to draw with France (don't laugh) and beat both Denmark and Peru in the group stage. Before knocking out Iceland and Russia.

Glimpet's knowledge of football is also somewhat lacking, also being an Australian and following Aberdeen and Scottish football.

Glimpet obviously knows nothing about Wellbeck's scoring success for their club.

I suggest they focus on the current games, and not England, which they show no apparent interest in.

hth

[andybox]

Stop deflecting back to Australia, Stephen. This is about England throwing a World Cup match. This isn’t about my tipping, it’s about English football etiquette.

[andybox]

Did they throw the game?

[Stephen_Dedalus]

By the way Lincoln, you had predicted England to lose to both Belgium and Colombia.

You might be due a punch to the nuts.

[The Mallard Missie]

Ah, but Australia does have the mighty Winx.

[VinnyD]

It is cheating the spectators, live and TV, who pay for this whole show.

Bingo.

I was thinking about this. Teams know that their supporters want them to win games, but they also know that their supporters want them to win tournaments, or at least to advance as far as possible.

They have to weigh the possibility that people will stop buying tickets to, say, Game 3 of the group stage of the World Cup knowing that one team may be uninterested in winning against the possibility of selling tickets and gaining viewers in the knockout stage. And they have to weigh the possibility of alienating fans and potential plans by throwing a match against the possibility of gaining fans by advancing further.

It's strategy and business. I don't see a problem with a team deciding either way.

[andybox]

What about people who bet on the match, Vinny?

[sodelicious]

What about people who bet on the match, Vinny?

As someone who bets on sporting events, too fucking bad. The bettor should have weighed the circumstances before he made the bet.

[DCComic]

What about people who bet on the match, Vinny?

The smart money would take the possibility of a sub par team into account.

[andybox]

That was a scheduled game though. The bet could have been made months before.

[sodelicious]

That was a scheduled game though. The bet could have been made months before.

Again, too fucking bad.

[andybox]

It’s a bit hard to determine who England would face in the final 16 if you place a bet months before kickoff.

[sodelicious]

It’s a bit hard to determine who England would face in the final 16 if you place a bet months before kickoff.

Again, too fucking bad.

[VinnyD]

What about people who bet on the match, Vinny?

As someone who bets on sporting events, too fucking bad. The bettor should have weighed the circumstances before he made the bet.

Exactly.

In any case, the team has no duty to bettors. At least the team sees some percentage of the ticket sales. (And as I said above, they have to weigh the desires of those spectators for a hard-fought game against the desires of their supporters generally for advancement in the tournament.) They get nothing from the bookmakers.