The reserve goalkeeper for English National League football side Sutton has been sacked after it was revealed the Gambling Commission had launched an investigation into him eating a pie during Monday’s fifth-round FA Cup loss to Arsenal.
Wayne Shaw, the 46-year-old cult hero who weighs in at a hefty 127kg, was filmed tucking into the tasty treat while on the bench during the final stages of his side’s 2-0 defeat. But he later admitted he had previously been made aware that bookmaker Sun Bets was offering odds of 8:1 on him eating a pie during the match.
“A few of the lads said to me earlier on, ‘What is going on with the 8-1 about eating a pie?'” Shaw said afterwards.
“I said ‘I don’t know – I have eaten nothing all day so I might give it a go later on’.”
Sun Bets has already paid out five figures as a result of the unusual bet. Sutton manager Paul Doswell said the board had no option but to sack the veteran keeper.
“We felt we had to take very strong actions,” he said. “The Chairman spoke to him this afternoon and Wayne offered his resignation.
“I’m devastated, the chairman is devastated. I have spoken to Wayne and the guy is in tears, crying down the phone. It is a very sad situation – a situation that had been such good fun in virtually every aspect until what happened last night.”
