Bookies at odds with UEFA Cup result

Soccer: It is often said of an unexpected football result that the underdogs had not read the script. After Wednesday's UEFA Cup tie between Panionios and Dinamo Tbilisi in Greece, however, many bookmakers suspect that the underdogs had not merely read the script, but had helped to write it too.

One betting expert described it as "one of the most audacious coups ever attempted". That it took place around a dead rubber, between two teams with no chance of advancing to the next stage of the cup competition, added to the intrigue.

Bookmakers around the world saw an extraordinary amount of interest in the match, and in particular the possibility that Tbilisi would lead at half-time, but end up losing. A 5-2 win for Panionios, at odds of 66 to 1 and upwards, was also a surprisingly popular choice.

It is unusual for a team to lead at the break and then lose, so the odds of it happening are normally at least 25-1.

On the betting exchange Betfair, however, where punters bet among themselves, the odds against Tbilisi throwing away a half-time lead were just 5.2 to 1 at kick-off.

A total of £11,000 was staked on this outcome on Betfair at odds between 35 to 1 and 40 to 1, while the bookmakers Stan James also reported massive interest. Its initial price of 28 to 1 on the "double result" was quickly cut to 22 to 1, and when someone noticed what was happening, it closed its book.

Subsequent events proved that the backers concerned were either clairvoyant or very well-informed.

Tbilisi scored before half-time, but were pulled back to 1-1 not long after the restart. Though they then went back into the lead, Panionios scored twice to lead 3-2 with time running out. Then, in the final two minutes, Panionios added two more goals to reach the 5-2 scoreline that the punters had been so eager to back.

"It stank to high heaven," Simon Clare, of bookmakers Coral, said yesterday. "To call it an unusual betting pattern would be the understatement of the century.

"We became aware of what was happening when a customer walked into our Chinatown shop and asked for £ 1,000 in cash at 28 to 1 on the half-time, full-time result. Then we started checking, and found we'd taken a lot of much smaller bets at 28 to 1."

The bookmakers hope UEFA will investigate the bizarre betting patterns that surrounded a match in one of its flagship competitions.

"This has to be one of the most audacious attempted coups ever," Mr Clare said. "If we can't bet with confidence on one of the world's major football tournaments, it has to be a cause for concern."

A UEFA spokesperson said last night that "it's a little bit too early to decide whether we will open an investigation".

In Athens yesterday, players from Panionios denied accusations of a fix as they arrived for training.

"That game is history, we're thinking about the next," defender Petr Vlcek said. "Nobody here cares about what others might say. We're not interested in gambling.

"It's easy to score in the 89th or 90th minute, because that's when everyone is tired."

No comment was available from Dinamo Tbilisi.

Portuguese soccer has also become embroiled in controversy following reports yesterday that police searched the office of Porto soccer club and its chairman's home in a probe into alleged attempts to influence referees.

Porto Chairman Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, whose side won the Champions League this year, has been summoned to give testimony as part of the "Golden Whistle" police investigation into alleged soccer corruption .

Porto lead the Portuguese premiership and play Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday in Porto.

The plainclothes Judiciary Police said its agents searched the Porto offices as well as Pinto da Costa's home. The club chairman was outside Portugal but had been informed of the events.

According to television reports, Pinto da Costa is prepared to meet investigators as soon as he returns to Portugal.

The Judiciary Police said in a statement it had detained five people for alleged crimes related to sports corruption. Those held lived around Porto, the city of Braga and in the Alentejo region.

According to the Lusa news agency, those arrested comprised four referees and a businessman.

Police launched the Golden Whistle investigation in April, focusing on the Porto area.

Meanwhile, the English Football Association have confirmed they will not take any action over Robin van Persie's alleged elbow on Kieran Richardson during Arsenal's League Cup defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday.

The Arsenal striker will not be punished further by the FA for his clash with Richardson yesterday. Referee Mark Halsey dealt with the matter at the time by showing both players a yellow card.

United boss Alex Ferguson will be infuriated by the FA's decision after he demanded they look into it.

A statement from the FA read: "In relation to the Robin van Persie/Kieran Richardson incident last night, we can confirm that the FA has reviewed the actions of all the players involved in the incident and is satisfied that no further disciplinary action is required."

The 21-year-old appeared to elbow the United winger during the League Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.

Ferguson said: "The FA must look at it because the boy threw an elbow.

"I asked the referee why both players had been booked, he said 'for aggressive intent' and told me he hadn't seen the elbow."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he considered taking van Persie off after the clash. "I did fear it was going to be worse than a yellow card, it could have been," he said.

"Robin shows great potential but he must also learn to keep his nerves under control and not get over-excited. I considered bringing him off because he was involved in some heated moments."

David Bellion's first-minute strike ensured a 1-0 victory for the home side.