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The soccer world has discovered itself on the heart of loads of scandals through the years. Nevertheless, it’s tougher to consider a dumber one than “Piegate,” which introduced the profession of goalkeeper Wayne Shaw to an finish.
I’m going to imagine the overwhelming majority of the folks studying this aren’t intimately conversant in Shaw, who spent his total profession taking part in for golf equipment you’re in all probability solely conversant in when you’re a really huge fan of soccer in the UK.
The Englishman initially acquired his begin as a midfielder however struggled together with his weight and conditioning throughout his youthful years. By the point he ended up taking part in for Bashley within the mid-90s, he realized the easiest way to maintain his profession alive was by pivoting to minding the aim.
Shaw by no means got here near sustaining the kind of determine you’d describe as “skinny,” and followers weren’t shy about mocking him over his massive body. In 2013, he was launched by Sutton United after heading into the stands to headbutt a spectator who insulted his weight (he tipped the scales at 320 kilos), however he finally re-signed with the workforce and stepped right into a backup function in 2015.
Nevertheless, the person who was dubbed the “Roly Poly Goalie” noticed his profession come to an finish simply a few years later after a cheeky transfer sparked an investigation that pressured him into retirement.
Wayne Shaw was pressured to retire after consuming a meat pie throughout a soccer match
BT Sport
On February 20, 2017, Sutton United confronted off in opposition to Arsenal in an FA Cup matchup the place Shaw’s workforce was anticipated to lose and nobody anticipated the 46-year-old reserve to see any taking part in time.
Shaw’s hefty stature meant that he’d routinely been subjected to the basic “Who Ate All The Pies?” chant from opposing followers, and previous to the match, one English bookmaker determined to have some enjoyable by providing a “Will Wayne Shaw eat a pie?” guess at 8-1 odds.
Anybody who threw some cash down on that prop noticed it money within the second half, as Shaw was noticed chowing down on the meat pie (a.ok.a. “pasty”) he’d secured halfway by the sport whereas chilling on the sidelines within the 83rd minute after his workforce had exhausted all of its substitutions with out sending him onto the pitch.
Nevertheless, in response to NBC Sports activities, that growth shortly got here to the eye of the UK Playing Fee, which launched an investigation to find out if there have been any irregular betting patterns and if Shaw had probably acquired cash to eat the pie.
The goalie finally admitted he was conscious of the guess in query however asserted he hadn’t been illegally persuaded to devour the pie, saying he hadn’t eaten that day and thought it will be humorous if he leaned into the bit.
Whereas he didn’t actually do something improper, he shortly determined to resign from the workforce in his capability as a participant and a goaltending coach. He finally acquired a £375 wonderful and a two-month ban from the FA for what was technically thought of tampering on the playing entrance.
Nevertheless, the suspension was basically a moot level, as Shaw determined it was time to hold up his cleats for good as soon as he stepped down.
