World Cup

Former Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray could soon be reunited on Arabic TV!

Arabic TV channel Al Jazeera is keen to expand its sports coverage after landing the rights to broadcast the next three World Cups and is thought to be very interested in adding Keys to their broadcasting team. If talks go according to plan Gray will join his old pal on the growing station and divide his time between Qatar and the UK.

Paddy Power already make Keys a smashing bet at 1/6 to make the move to the Middle East, although there are still other potential options on the table. It’s 8/1 that Keys moves to either ESPN or Irish station TV3 and 10/1 ITV take him on.

RTE bosses at Montrose however have ruled out headhunting the Coventry presenter but there’s been no comment from chiefs at Playboy TV, who Paddy Power make a 500/1 shot to hire Keys next.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Moving to Al Jazeera could currently be the best move for Keys. Not only will the channel be broadcasting the next three World Cups but Qatar will play host to WC 2022. Saying that, if an offer at Playboy became a reality the perks of the job could prove too tempting to refuse!” (more…)

Here’s a preview of this weekend’s exciting football action: (more…)

Last weekend’s football action provided some massive shocks, body blows and fantastic entertainment. This weekend should present more of the same, and here’s a preview: (more…)

Following England’s lacklustre performance against Montenegro, who are ranked 40th in the world, Sky Bet are offering 3/1 for Fabio Capello not to be England manager come the start of the 2012 European Championships (1/5 still manager).

The Italian is now under immense criticism from the national media and Sky Bet are offering 7/2 for Capello to be relived of his duties by January 1^st 2011 (1/6 still manager after 1^st Jan 2011).

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “Fabio Capello has always stated that he would see England through to the Euro 2012 Championships and we think that this will be the case. England’s next match is a friendly against France in November so this will give the Italian the perfect opportunity to assess his side before they face Wales at the end of March 2011 in their next Euro 2012 qualifier.” (more…)

Paddy Power have lost their legal battle with Monmouthshire County Council and have been forced to dismantle their giant billboard from a site beside Celtic Manor Golf Course.

The 270ft Paddy Power promotional sign overlooking the Ryder Cup venue landed the bookmaker in Cardiff County Court at noon today to fight an injunction brought by the local council to have the sign removed.

Paddy Power himself was present in court today in a bid to defend his giant structure, the biggest freestanding sign in the world. However, despite an energetic defence by the bookie the Court ruled in favour of Monmouthshire County Council.

Paddy Power himself said “We are clearly the victims of bureaucratic bullies and rich golf course owners but we will respect the verdict of the court. Monmouthshire County Council’s tactic of parking a bulldozer beside the sign this morning was quite threatening but we’re happy that the Court has let common sense prevail and allowed us three days to remove the sign safely”

Unperturbed by today’s decision Paddy Power are now taking bets on where the giant billboard will next appear with the London Olympics emerging as the early 2/1 favourite. Less likely but also on the bookies shortlist is Celtic Manor Golf Course owner, Terry Matthews, at 500/1. (more…)

England are the hot favourites to host the 2018 World Cup as FIFA delegates make a technical inspection across the country this week. Paddy Power has England at just 11/10 to win the 2018 bidding war with nearest rivals Russia at 15/8 after FIFA President Sepp Blatter intimated the two countries might be his preferred bidders.

With several bids such as Australia falling by the wayside, the bid from Spain & Portugal has moved up to third favourite at 3/1 with Belgium and Holland at 12/1 but, with FIFA leaning towards a European country, USA are the 14/1 outsiders.

Should England get the nod from FIFA they are 16/1 to repeat the success of 1966 and win the World Cup on home soil. But who will get the chance to be Bobby Moore? Paddy Power makes a 32 year old Wayne Rooney 5/1 to be England captain at the 2018 World Cup in what could be a swansong for the Man United striker whilst goalkeeper Joe Hart, who looks set to be England’s number one for years to come, is 15/2.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Since 1994 FIFA have seemingly alternated between taking the World Cup into new territories like the USA and South Africa with more traditional football countries such as Germany and Brazil. Will they opt for the traditional market of England in 2018 or step into another frontier with Russia? The betting currently suggests football could finally be coming home.” (more…)

Sky Bet make David Beckham 20/1 to play at the 2012 Olympics and 66/1 to play at any point during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil following comments from the midfielder that he would love the opportunity to extend his England career.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “After witnessing England’s embarrassing performance in South Africa it’s not surprising that Beckham thinks he can still do a job for England but with his age and recent injury woes, it will be hard to see him playing back at the top level.” (more…)

Dirk Kuyt is 7/4 to be booked by Howard Webb in the league during the 2010/11 season following comments from the Dutch player that Webb was to blame for Holland’s World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Webb produced 14 yellow cards and one red card during the final and was then booed off the pitch by the Dutch supporters. The Liverpool forward is 16/1 to see red from Webb in the league next season.

Sky Bet’s football betting spokesman Tim Reynolds said: “The Dutch can only blame themselves for their defeat last night and can count themselves lucky not to be down to 10 men in the first half following Nigel de Jong’s attempted karate kick in the chest of Xabi Alonso. If Kuyt and Webb cross paths next season in the league it will be interesting to see how the Dutch international handles himself.” (more…)

It may not have been a vintage World Cup Final but it was definitely one to forget for top bookie Paddy Power who had pledged to refund a massive range of losing bets on the Final if it finished 0-0.  The goal-less draw in the ninty-third minute triggered the costly refund which saw the bookmaker return a staggering €500,000 back into its punters pockets.

Looking ahead to 2014 and despite tonight’s all European World Cup Final five time champions Brazil have been installed as the bookies favourites to win the next World Cup.

With home advantage in 2014 the Samba Kings are currently 3/1 with Paddy Power to win a record six FIFA World Cup Championships ahead of Argentina at 11/2 and resigning World Cup champions Spain at 13/2.  England are considered 14/1 shots while Ireland are massive 125/1 outsiders. (more…)

Paddy Power plc today announced the appointment of Paddy the Psychic Octopus to their senior management team.

Paddy is a first cousin of Paul Oktopus who recently shot to international fame when he correctly predicted all of Germany’s World Cup results. Paddy will be responsible for predicting the outcome of major sporting events for the bookmaking chain from his office at the National Sea Life Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow.

Paddy is expected to arrive in Ireland before the end of July and will undergo a period of “psychic tuning” before being beginning his role with Paddy Power.  It is hoped that Paddy’s first predictions will be around the forthcoming GAA All Ireland Finals and Ryder Cup.

Pat Ó Súilleabháin, director of the National Sea Life Centre in Bray said “We’ve had our eye on Paddy for some time now and we’re delighted that he’ll soon be joining us in Bray. As a full cousin to Paul he has already exhibited an exciting degree of psychic awareness and we’re confident that we can develop his ability to a level similar, of perhaps even greater, than his cousin”

Paddy Power said “Paul the Psychic Octopus cost us a king’s ransom during the World Cup so it really was a no-brainer to get Paddy on the payroll”

To celebrate Paddy’s imminent arrival, top tailor Louis Copeland created a one-off 8-tentacled sweater for Paddy the octopus who is used to the warmer waters of his native Mediterranean.

Louis Copeland said “I’ve fitted out everyone from Bill Clinton and Pierce Brosnan to Ronan Keating and Bertie Ahern but Paddy the Psychic Octopus is the icing on the cake.  The eight tentacled design presented a unique challenge but I’m very happy with the final product”

Paddy the Psychic Octopus will be on public display in the National Sea Life Centre in Bray, Co Dublin from September and his sports predictions will be webcast live from the Paddy Power website.