Paddy Power loses millions and has 'pants pulled down' after offer exploited
The action-packed Nations League semi-final between Spain and France may have been a stellar watch for football fans but not for Paddy Power who had a night to forget
Paddy Power were the grand losers after the Nations League thriller between Spain and France - with the gambling company losing millions. The second of the two semi-finals kicked off on Thursday and it was the Euro 2024 holders that got off to a fast start.
Nico Williams and Mikel Merino scored within three minutes of each other to hand Spain a healthy lead going into the second half. It only just got better for the Spaniards who managed to score another two goals in quick succession, this time with only two minutes separating a Lamine Yamal penalty and a Pedri strike.
A Kylian Mbappe spot-kick got France seemed to have given them a fighting chance but it was the 17-year-old superstar who added to the scoresheet again to give his side a whopping 5-1 lead with just over 20 minutes to go.
Didier Deschamps' side attempted to stage a late comeback after Rayan Cherki's stunning goal which cut the deficit to three. But even an own goal form Vivian and a stoppage-time header from Randal Kolo Muani wasn't enough as they fell to a 5-4 defeat.
While football fans across the globe were treated to an immensely entertaining match between two of the best international teams on the planet, those at Paddy Power didn't share the same enthusiasm.
The match was a massively costly one for the company due to punters exploiting the offer of the Super Sub which has been offered for 973 matches over a span of 18 months.
The Super Sub is activated when a bet stays live and continues onto a substituted player if they're taken off and given the fact that there were 10 subs in Thursday's match, the offer cost Paddy Power more money than it had ever done before.
The company lost £500,000 after Vivian came on for Robin Le Normand in the 77th minute and committed a foul just minutes later.
Samu Aghehowa coming on for Mikel Oyarzabal and having a shot on target also hit the business where it hurts while Gavi's booking after his 91st minute introduction for Merino saw punters win £200,000.
A Paddy Power spokesman said: "I thought the Nations League was supposed to be boring? I wish it bloody was! But fair play to the punters. They've come in, taken advantage of Super Sub and absolutely pulled our pants down, leaving us licking our wounds at Power Tower today."
Despite France's defeat, Rayan Cherki - who was reportedly edging closer to a move with Manchester City - scored a stunning strike and admitted after the game that he'll soon become a Citizen.
"Yes… it's getting done," he said to Telefoot when asked about the progress of his move to City. "But you already know my answer, everybody knows. But there's still a game to play. Now we have to enjoy and give everything, but after it will be done."
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