£1.5m coup pays off as injury-hit Forfar lose 8-0
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gamblers around the world landed collective winnings estimated at £1.5m on Saturday after the biggest football betting coup in years, involving around £3m wagered on a minor Scottish match. As The Independent revealed on Saturday morning, a deluge of cash began to pour in on Friday for Peterhead to beat Forfar in the Scottish Second Division.
Forfar, with an acute injury crisis that left them with only eight match-fit players, two of them goalkeepers, had asked for the game to be postponed. The Scottish FA declined that request on Friday. Canny punters backed Peterhead, with single bets reaching five figures, including one £10,000 wager placed in Canada on the internet.
Peterhead were backed heavily both with high street bookies and on betting exchanges. On the Betfair exchange alone, £405,000 was traded on the game, with £398,000 of that on Peterhead. Ladbrokes, who took £5,000 on Peterhead and not a penny on Forfar by Friday afternoon, actually had to reprint their weekend coupon to accommodate a shortening of the odds. Peterhead, who were even money at the outset, were 1-2 at kick-off.
The result showed money really does talk. Peterhead won 8-0 and, to compound Forfar's misery, they had two players sent off.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments