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In a shocking revelation, Premiership footballers are getting suspended intentionally by referees so they can take vacations.
The News of the World has revealed this weekend how Premiership "prima donnas" as they refer to them as are getting booked on purpose to miss matches and skive off. The headline reads "Soccer Cheat Scandal".
The astonishing betrayal of fans by certain players was exposed by top Premier League referree Steve Bennett. Last night the league's bosses launched a probe and said: "We will be asking Bennett for an explanation."
According to the News of the World, a top international Premier League star asked to be booked so he could get suspended and go on holiday with his family while another wanted off for Christmas. A third just didn't feel like playing in a specific locale.
The ref, who took charge of the 2007 FA Cup Final, glanced from side to side and in a whisper to one of the undercover reporters said "Never repeat this. As a fan they f***ing rip you off. You don't know half the things that go on. If they knew that, you'd be absolutely gutted, trust me."
The shock tape was being shown on the News of the World website.
The News of the World gained extensive notoriety last weekend for its publication of photos that showed Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps smoking from a bong pipe.
NOTW also features a story this week that a handful of Arsenal players plan on quitting should their club fail to make the top 4 this year.
Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas are all increasingly concerned at Arsenal's lack of silverware and ambition - and the final straw will come if they finish outside the top four.
Van Persie is yet to sign a new deal and has made it clear it is not just about money but the direction the club is going.
And he has been joined by Adebayor and Fabregas who are both targets for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Boss Wenger is also growing increasingly frustrated at the stalemate over Theo Walcott's new contract.
Arsenal is currently listed with 9/2 odds of winning the 2009 FA Cup at Sportingbet.com
Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
