Sutton goalkeeper Wayne Shaw resigns as pie-eating stunt probed
The reserve goalie has left the club after his pie-eating stunt during the FA Cup 4th Round match with Arsenal led to an investigation by the Football Association and the Gambling Commission.
Sutton United goalkeeper Wayne Shaw has resigned after his pie-eating stunt during the FA Cup 4th Round match with Arsenal on Monday evening led to an investigation by the Football Association and the Gambling Commission for potentially breaching betting rules.
Sun Bets, Sutton's sponsor for the tie, had been offering odds of 8-1 on the portly 45-year-old eating a pie live on air, and he was caught on camera enjoying his dinner during the second half on Monday.
Manager of the National League club, Paul Doswell, announced on Wednesday afternoon that Shaw had been asked to hand in his resignation following the incident, a move he agreed to.
Shaw decision taken at board level - Dowsell
"This decision was taken at board level," Dowsell told Sky News. "We felt we had to take very strong actions. 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."
Shaw has admitted he knew of bookmaker's promotion and the Gambling Commission insists it is no laughing matter.
"Integrity in sport is not a joke and we have opened an investigation to establish exactly what happened," said enforcement and intelligence director Richard Watson.
"As part of that, we'll be looking into any irregularity in the betting market and establishing whether the operator has met its licence requirement to conduct its business with integrity."
Sun Bets pay out five-figure sum
Sun Bets has revealed it paid out a five-figure sum on the market, while Shaw says that he knew of some people who had money on it.
"I think there were a few people [I knew]," he said. "Obviously we are not allowed to bet. I think a few of the mates and a few of the fans [did].
"It was just a bit of banter for them. It is something to make the occasion as well and you can look back and say it was part of it and we got our ticket money back."
Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners at Gander Green Lane, scoring through Lucas Perez and Theo Walcott to end non-league Sutton's fairytale run to the fifth round.