Liability to gambling fans and supporters in favour of fair play in soccer1

Abstract

This article is inspired by the 2010 World Cup™ qualifying soccer match between Ireland and France. In that match, a hand was used to steer a ball which led to a goal being scored against Ireland in favour of France. That is something which could have happened in any other big soccer event. It is something which was once referred to as ‘The Hand of God’ by Diego Maradona, whereby England was knocked out of the World Cup in 1986.2 With all this happening in a field of soccer, many supporters and fans are involved in different forms of sport betting – in particular soccer. Further, soccer is prone to wrong on field decisions. Wrong decisions often lead to certain results which then influence the outcome of a bet. Eventually some of those wrong decisions are reversed, but such reversal is not implemented for gambling purposes either because it was way after the fact; or ignorance to develop rules and regulations is playing its part. Should football associations be liable to gamblers who lost their fortunes?