The outcome of the football game between and isolated island nation whose banking industry is in big trouble and Iceland has so incensed one bookmaker that they are paying back customers who bet on Roy Hodgson’s men.
Two years on from the ignominy of Brazil 2014, England are heading home with their tails between their legs again after a stunning 2-1 defeat by Iceland.
On the Richter scale of embarrassment, the Three Lions’ Euro 2016 exit to a country that boasts a population the size of Leicester ranks right up there with their 1-0 World Cup defeat by the United States in 1950.
Bosses at Bet4Causes and sister company MyClubBetting were so disheartened by England’s shambolic failure that they are paying back anyone who backed Hodgson’s men to win the tournament.
Online bookmaker Bet4Causes already give 20% of their net profits to charity.
The firm’s spokesman Simon Milham said: “The abject display by the team, the wooliness shown by Roy Hodgson and his inability to have a Plan B was more than we could take.
“Playing confidence-shot Raheem Sterling and an out-of-form Harry Kane, and leaving two in-form strikers on the bench was a mistake, one that Hodgson did not seem to learn from.
“But then taking off all-time scorer Wayne Rooney when needing a goal and bringing on Jack Wilshere, who has played about five minutes all season, was borderline laughable.
“All credit to Iceland, but from our perspective it was painful to watch.
“Hodgson gambled and lost. But any customers who backed England to win the Euros with Bet4Causes will get their money back as a free bet.
“It will cost the firm quite a few bob, but we genuinely feel sorry for those patriotic fans who backed England to go all the way.
“Who knows, perhaps they might want to back Andy Carroll to be the Premier League’s top scorer next season? In our opinion, England could certainly have done with him last night.”
Gareth Southgate is the hot favourite to take over from Hodgson, who resigned shortly after the defeat.
About My Club Betting.com Limited
MYCLUBBETTING.COM (MCB) provides a free betting service to any club, from elite to grassroots level. In minutes, it can supply any sports club with its own betting service featuring its own club logo, colours, and social media links on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.
The service enables clubs to retrieve a percentage of bookmaking revenues, which also aids grassroots funding. Partners supply the betting events, prices and bookmaking services. Supporters open accounts and place bets with them, whilst MCB manages the club relationship.
As well as grassroots clubs, MCB has also contracted with six Super League clubs. These are include Leeds Rhinos (also ground-sharing with Leeds Carnegie and included in the contract), Wakefield Wildcats and Huddersfield Giants (also shirt sponsors), Salford Red Devils, Castleford Tigers and Hull Kingston Rovers. Others clubs under the MCB umbrella include Club Doncaster – which incorporates Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Knights. MCB is also a stand sponsor at the Keepmoat Stadium.
MCB were the Official Broadcast Partner to Premier Sports TV’s coverage of the 2015 Copa America and also the Official Bookmaking Partner to the 2013 Rugby World Cup.
Bet4Causes is My Club Betting’s retail site, primarily aimed at providing a betting service for individuals not affiliated with a sports club. Partners supply the betting events, prices and bookmaking services. Individuals open accounts and place bets with Bet4Causes, with 20% of the betting partner’s profits split between the chosen charities each month. The current Bet4Causes charities supported are: World Horse Welfare, StreetGames and Greatwood.
