Police contact FA over Le Tissier bet claim
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Your support makes all the difference.Police have contacted the Football Association about allegations of a historic betting scam which was disclosed in a striker's autobiography, they said today.
Former England player Matt Le Tissier admitted being part of a failed gambling scam in his book, Taking Le Tiss.
A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "Police in Southampton have been made aware of a historic spread betting scam allegation at a Saints football match in the 1990s.
"We have raised this matter with the FA and are discussing it with them."
The Football Association (FA) did not wish to comment but was considering its position in regard to the matter after being contacted by police.
In his autobiography, Le Tissier admitted gambling on the time of the first throw-in in Southampton's 2-0 win at Wimbledon in April 1995.
Former Southampton captain Le Tissier said he tried to kick the ball out of play but it was kept in by Neil Shipperley, who was unaware of the bet.
Le Tissier, 40, said the longer the ball stayed in play, the more he stood to lose.
In the end he neither lost nor gained, as the ball went out of play on 70 seconds, during the Premier League game against Wimbledon.
"It seemed to be going like clockwork," he said in his book.
"We kicked-off, the ball was tapped to me and I went to hit it out towards Neil Shipperley on the left wing.
"As it was live on television, I didn't want to make it too obvious, so I tried to hit it just over his head."
He said he with so much riding on it, he was nervous and did not kick it hard enough, with Shipperley heading it back into play.
Le Tissier, who scored the first of two goals to hand the win to Southampton, said he had not tried spread betting since.
Southampton Football Club declined to comment.
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