Non-league Sutton United’s substitute goalkeeper Wayne Shaw was the subject of numerous stories before his side’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal, but not many predicted he would dominate social media after the game as well.
The 46-year-old has stepped down from his position as goalkeeping coach at the club after a controversial incident with what was either a pie or a pasty – you read that correctly.
Shaw was 8/1 with a bookmaker to eat a pie on camera, and with the game nearing the final whistle, he was pictured chowing down on the bench – the result is #PieGate
So the FA joins the Gambling Commission in investigating the betting rules around Sutton's Wayne Shaw and the #PieGate scandal.. #AFC
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) February 21, 2017
In light of the incident, the FA announced it is investigating whether its betting rules have been breached.The team took on sponsorship from Sun Bets, which was running the odds that the keeper would eat a pie on the sidelines, for one game only. Shaw admitted he knew about the odds being offered. The FA’s rules on betting state: “A participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, a football match or competition.”Shaw is under investigation from the Gambling Commission as well regarding the incident. Gary Lineker was not amused when it became apparent Shaw had left the club.
So Wayne Shaw, who slept on a sofa 3 nights a week at Sutton to maintain and run the place loses his job over #piegate. FFS!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 21, 2017
Shaw told BBC Radio 4′s World At One programme: “This is just a bit of fun and me being hungry.”
I can't wait for Wayne Shaw to do loads of pie adverts become mega rich then buy Sutton Utd. That would be the magic of the FA Cup #piegate
— Rob Beckett (@robbeckettcomic) February 21, 2017
Meanwhile, Sutton manager Paul Doswell warned staff they could follow Shaw out of the club if they had placed bets on him eating a pie.Attention also turned to what Shaw actually ate.
I'm just curious to know whether it was a Steak & Kidney or Chicken & Mushroom Pie? #Piegate
— Yannick Bolasie (@YannickBolasie) February 21, 2017
All this about #piegate pretty sure it looks like a pasty to me pic.twitter.com/j3uIzKiVss
— Paul Ayres (@ayresy76) February 21, 2017
Fortunately, the story was given the attention it deserved.
Thorough reporting from the @Independent on #piegate pic.twitter.com/vDdPByq8wZ
— Matt Cutler (@mattycutler) February 21, 2017
And this social media user asked quite a thought-provoking question.
If the bet was 8/1 on Shaw not to eat a pie and he knew of it and he didn't eat a pie would he still have to resign? #piegate
— Jack Proctor (@Jproctor96) February 21, 2017
Interesting.
