Paddy Power apologise after quoting a dead footballer for the Birmingham job

[clippedgull]

A bookmaker has given odds on a dead footballer replacing sacked Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp.

Paddy Power offered 66/1 on ex-Aston Villa and England defender Ugo Ehiogu taking over - a move punters have blasted as "sick".

The player died in April at the age of 44 following a cardiac arrest.

Paddy Power - which also offered odds of 2,500/1 on Brummie rocker Ozzy Osbourne replacing Redknapp - has apologised for a "genuine error".

more... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41305915

 

[KVLT]

"This was a genuine error, a trader re-used an old market as a template for this one, and didn't notice that Mr Ehiogu was included," it (Paddy Power) said.

Not buying it myself. With the inclusion of the likes of Ozzy Osbourne I think someone was indulging in a rather pathetic attempt at humour.

 

[Easy 10]

That is very distasteful.

They always like to be a bit "edgy" with their ads. Its obviously been deliberate, and its worked for them. No such thing as bad publicity, as they say.

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

A pi55 poor, tasteless publicity stunt. They won't give a toss as long as they get exposure for their company.

 

[The_Viper]

I buy this as being an error, they're edgy and push the line but I don't think they'd do something so pointlessly tasteless. Unfortunately for them due to their track record nobody will buy it as this topic shows.

 

[Easy 10]

When has Ugo Ehiogu EVER been in an "old market" to become a manager ? He was a coaching kids at Spurs, so was hardly on the radar for any managerial roles. Utter BS from Paddy Power. That apology is a mealy-mouthed insult to his family, I hope they tell them to poke it.

 

[Munkfish]

I buy this as being an error, they're edgy and push the line but I don't think they'd do something so pointlessly tasteless. Unfortunately for them due to their track record nobody will buy it as this topic shows.

I am hoping they do their fan Denial on Palace fans this afternoon though, keep an eye on their twitter or facebook account for it.

 

[beorhthelm]

When has Ugo Ehiogu EVER been in an "old market" to become a manager ? He was a coaching kids at Spurs, so was hardly on the radar for any managerial roles. Utter BS from Paddy Power. That apology is a mealy-mouthed insult to his family, I hope they tell them to poke it.

you have seen some of the daft options the online betting put for managers? all sorts of daft names make the list.

 

[Easy 10]

you have seen some of the daft options the online betting put for managers? all sorts of daft names make the list.

Sure, but Ugo Ehiogu was never one of those "daft names" to put up on managerial odds either, not like Ozzy Osborne or Richard Madeley. It was clearly done as a tasteless joke, but they're never going to come clean on that are they. Far easier to concoct this cock-and-bull story about it being an old template.

 

[Springal]

Bit of a co-incidence that he was a Villa player and this was a job for their rivals wasn't it.... poor taste

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

If anyone genuinely believes it was an honest mistake, I have some magic beans for sale...

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I 100% believe that is an honest mistake. That's not someone trying to be 'edgy'.

Find it odd that people seem to think someone representing their company would deliberately do that. This isn't some silly twitter thing posted by a 16 year old. This is a massive company, whether they are 'edgy' or not.

 

[Gwylan]

I 100% believe that is an honest mistake. That's not someone trying to be 'edgy'.

Find it odd that people seem to think someone representing their company would deliberately do that. This isn't some silly twitter thing posted by a 16 year old. This is a massive company, whether they are 'edgy' or not.

I fully believe it was someone trying to be edgy and failing.

A few years ago I had a gig for a sports betting company running their social media. There were a few of us, working in shifts, firing off tweets and FB posts to encourage debate (and of course, betting). After a few months I was released, as the company wanted to bring in more economically viable (read young, inexperienced but cheap) staff. They certainly saved money but I'm sure they have been a few lapses in tastes along the way.

I, of course, was thoroughly professional ... even when I was on duty when Brighton were playing

 

[GT49er]

Yes, but would he have been any worse than Gian Franco Zola?

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Whilst PP will do anything for a bit of publicity the explanation checks out. Those of us that follow racing have seen markets including dead horses and even ones that don't exist (An Aussie firm put up a non existent horse to prove bet 365 were robbing thier prices). Still, good for a Twitter #disgrace job.

https://www.punters.com.au/news/sportsbet-traders-stitch-up-bet365_158097/

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I am hoping they do their fan Denial on Palace fans this afternoon though, keep an eye on their twitter or facebook account for it.

Those things are hilarious!

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

 

[Ernest]

What price was Alan Ball

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I 100% believe that is an honest mistake. That's not someone trying to be 'edgy'.

Find it odd that people seem to think someone representing their company would deliberately do that. This isn't some silly twitter thing posted by a 16 year old. This is a massive company, whether they are 'edgy' or not.

Yeah because massive companies never take the piss do they [emoji848]

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I 100% believe that is an honest mistake. That's not someone trying to be 'edgy'.

Find it odd that people seem to think someone representing their company would deliberately do that. This isn't some silly twitter thing posted by a 16 year old. This is a massive company, whether they are 'edgy' or not.

If you believe that was a mistake, look at this. Another Paddy Power's advert has been banned for racism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41330470

 

[spence]

If you believe that was a mistake, look at this. Another Paddy Power's advert has been banned for racism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41330470

Clever advert. I don't see that as racism. Once again people like to be offended. Normally the non black people themselves. If anything it is racist towards white people as the advert implies black people are better.