A tweet has gone viral this week, stating how Wigan Athletic have been a victim to one of the greatest sporting scandals of all time.
@marksparko tweeted a thread explaining it all following the shocking news that the Latics enter into administration, becoming the first English professional club to do so since the coronavirus pandemic.
Paul Stanley, Gerald Krasner and Dean Watson of Begbies Traynor have been appointed as joint administrators.
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
The EFL have stated: “As a result of Wigan Athletic confirming they have entered into administration, the Club will be subject to a 12-point deduction and, in accordance with EFL Regulations, the timing of the sporting sanction can only be determined once final league placings in the Championship are determined.
“If in the event the Club is relegated by virtue of their final position following the conclusion of the Championship season, then the deduction will apply in League One in 2020/21. However, if the Club is not in the relegation places following the final game of season, the sanction will be then be applied to their season 2019/20 total and final league standings amended as appropriate.”
So, back to how Wigan have been victim to one of the greatest sporting scandals of all time, take a look at the tweets that have had 27.9K Retweets and 52.7K Likes as of Saturday lunchtime. We are sure in the future it will be a topic students buy essays UK on.
In 2018 Dave Whelan sold Wigan Athletic to Hong Kong based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) who specialise in gambling. Owned by professional poker player Stanley Choi of Hong Kong.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
June 2020. The club officially changed hands to Next Leader Fund (NLF) based in the Cayman Islands and only set up in January 2020. Majority share in NLF? You guessed it, Stanley Choi. How did NLF afford the takeover? A loan. pic.twitter.com/EZpbJcTW37
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
IEC loaned NLF £28million with an interest rate of 8% rising to 20% if not paid back in 12 months. That’s £100,000 a week in payments which Wigan would not be able to afford. Sounds dodgy as hell right? Well the EFL didn’t seem to think swiftly approving the terms of sale. pic.twitter.com/bsgJ2QHU04
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
On 24th June, NLF switched hands to a new majority stakeholder, Au Yeung Wai Kay. A week later, Chinese lawyers contacted administrators to instruct them to seize control of the club. The administrators themselves can’t even contact the owners, who have clearly ‘done a runner’.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Has Au Yeung Wai Kay always dreamed of owning a football club in Lancashire? Doubt it. He paid £17million for the club + £28million in loan repayments. That’s £45million pounds to own a club for 7 days and then place it into admin. Why would anybody do that?
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Well, here’s why… This is a video of the head of the English Football League, Richard Parry, stating he’s heard a rumour that there was a big bet placed on Wigan’s relegation in the Philippines. Remember the past owner was a professional gambler who owned a string of casinos? pic.twitter.com/uW3PTkrOAL
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
This video has since been confirmed as Rick Parry by the EFL. pic.twitter.com/ID43NgCrRP
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
I wonder which Philippine-based gambling company could have been used? Well look no further than the front of Wigan’s shirts. KB88 bet. Director of KB88, Tat Man Cheung, left the company prior to take over then was reinstated 12 days before Wigan was placed into administration pic.twitter.com/9YjnnEiF2p
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
KB88 brought into the club by the past owner and Darren Royle (Current Wigan Chairman). Royle used to work for KB88 Bet. He was also responsible for recommending IEC to Wigan Athletic when Whelan was looking to sell.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Royle, since the administration news, has deleted his LinkedIn account. A coincidence or to cover up communications? pic.twitter.com/6TBYo9y9hc
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
So why would somebody place a club into admin 7 days after owning them and only 6 games before the end of the season? -12 points is the sanction from the EFL, dragging Wigan back into the relegation places. Nobody would want that surely?
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Unless maybe you (or a close ally) gambled on the club going down and panicked as they started to pick up points and climb away. Does Au Yeung Wai Kay even exist? Or is he a fictional front man to keep Choi out of trouble? https://t.co/7RxxacU3dB
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Let me now take you back to August 2019, witnesses in the stand saw somebody get thrown out of the stadium for being wired up and illegally betting. Where in the world was he wired up to? Hong Kong. There’s a history of betting scams. pic.twitter.com/SB4Q96EKL0
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
“It’s a well run club and the oddest situation I’ve ever seen” was the verdict of administrator Gerald Krasner. Wigan have always been a well run club, loss making, but controlled. We rely on funding from owners and have only spent money we either had or believed was incoming pic.twitter.com/sZ2kylzBal
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
This money was quickly pulled from under the club’s feet by a transaction that was sanctioned by the EFL only weeks prior. The same EFL that then issued a -12 point penalty, punishing the club but potentially rewarding the owners and their carefully constructed plan.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
This is an international scandal that requires investigation at the highest level. Facilitated willingly by the EFL who proceeded to punish innocent people based on their own failings. We may be too far down the line to save Wigan but this CANNOT be allowed to happen to others.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
https://t.co/LRIDuz0WSRhttps://t.co/1bP08JaqA2
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Finally, a massive thanks to @sammorsy08 Paul Cook and the rest of the lads. You are all heroes as I hear despite looking at 20% pay you’re all on the bus to Brentford.
Please share this thread, this is potentially the greatest football scandal of all time!
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
I must state, there’s no actual evidence for a bet placed with KB88. Not yet anyway.
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 3, 2020
Important info in here, the Royles planned to vote AGAINST administration. Another board member, Chun Yiu Thomas Chan, was forced out to swing the vote in Wai Kay’s favour.
Despite any links, it looks like the Royles were on our side. https://t.co/0tQRSNuwtF
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 4, 2020
Another theory for the motives behind this scandal….https://t.co/QN7x7wcOur https://t.co/sLRnetafMQ
— mark ?? (@marksparko) July 4, 2020
After reading up on the astonishing viral Twitter thread, fans and other social media users tweeted their thoughts on it all…
@leodis27: Leeds fans have been saying the EFL is corrupt for years but it’s Leeds so it’s either a conspiracy or just us moaning, nothing will happen and they’ll go on being corrupt
@watpoae: Any chance someone at the EFL is in on the bet as well? This is absolutely rotten to the core
@bubblemaster3: Take the money away, stop paying the players, agents & banks ridiculous amounts, I want MY football back, pre Premier League years, without suits pedalling millions around! Put the Fans first! Out the leach’s sucking game the dry. Level the playing field! Become a joke.
@GarM44505994: From a Rangers fan reading through this, reminds me of a whole lot or wrong doing at our club. You guys have my sincere condolences and I hope this is fully investigated.shocking stuff lads it really is
@mightywhitesfc: Absolutely scandalous, I hope this galvanises the players and they can beat relegation against the odds. The whole situation stinks to high heaven.
@truered786: Every football fan should read this thread
@paula_jermy: Could you imagine if this had happened to a big club in the premiership, it would be headlines all over the world. Maybe that’s why they chose little Wigan, they thought no one would care. So thank you for keep investigating
@Medders20: Agree with you 100% I’m a Blackburn fan and the EFL have done nothing in the last 10-15 years to support sides like Blackburn, Wigan, Bolton, Portsmouth, Blackpool and Charlton etc, they let owners in left, right and centre who don’t have a clue what they are doing!!!
@djcaird85: How this was allowed to happen is beyond me, speaks volumes for the EFL “fit and proper” test for taking over clubs, how was this allowed to go through? The thread highlights flaws in what’s going on and needs investigation from the powers that be, good luck!
After reading how Wigan have been victim to one of the greatest sporting scandals of all time, what are your thoughts? Let us know by commenting HERE.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login