English soccer player banned for FA Cup pie-eating bet stunt

Sutton-reserve-goalkeeper-Wayne-Shaw-walks-near-the-playing-area-before-the-FA-Cup-5th-round-soccer-match-at-Gander-Green-Lane,-Sutton,-London,-Monday-Feb.-20,-2017.-A-backup-goalkeeper-paid-the-price-for-eating-a-meat-pie-during-his-team's-landmark-game-against-Arsenal,-resigning-from-Sutton-United-as-authorities-launched-investigations-into-the-apparent-betting-stunt.-A-British-newspaper's-betting-company,-which-sponsored-Sutton-United-for-Monday's-FA-Cup-game,-had-8-1-odds-that-overweight-reserve-goalkeeper-Wayne-Shaw-would-eat-a-meat-pie.-(Andrew-Matthews/PA-via-AP)

Sutton reserve goalkeeper Wayne Shaw walks near the playing area before the FA Cup 5th round soccer match at Gander Green Lane, Sutton, London, Monday Feb. 20, 2017. A backup goalkeeper paid the price for eating a meat pie during his team's landmark game against Arsenal, resigning from Sutton United as authorities launched investigations into the apparent betting stunt. A British newspaper's betting company, which sponsored Sutton United for Monday's FA Cup game, had 8-1 odds that overweight reserve goalkeeper Wayne Shaw would eat a meat pie. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

LONDON – The English Football Association has banned a player for influencing a betting market when he ate a meat pie during his team’s landmark FA Cup game against Arsenal.

A newspaper’s betting company, which sponsored Sutton United, had 8-1 odds that Sutton’s overweight reserve goalkeeper Wayne Shaw would eat a pie during February’s globally-televised game at the south London club.

After Sutton used all of its substitutions and there was no chance Shaw would appear in the 2-0 loss to Arsenal, he munched on the pie while sitting on the bench.

The FA case ended at hearing Wednesday when Shaw was fined 375 pounds ($490) and banned from soccer for two months after he was found guilty of having "intentionally influenced a football betting market."

Shaw quit Sutton after the game.

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