Punter complains to SkyBet as Jude Bellingham ‘shot on target’ has fans divided
An angry punter lobbied a complaint to SkyBet after the company decided not to pay out on Jude Bellingham's 'shot' on target that left fans divided.
Bellingham received the ball on the wing in the 91st minute of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League clash against Chelsea, and he instantly pinged it into the Blues' box. But the midfielder's effort went straight into the hands of Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Betting provider SkyBet deemed Bellingham's effort to be a cross and not a shot based on Opta rules, meaning those who gambled on the 19-year-old having a shot on target in the 2-0 Chelsea win, missed out on a payout. Opta defines a shot on target as, "Any goal attempt that is a clear attempt to score that would have gone into the net but for being saved by the goalkeeper or is stopped by a player who is the last-man with the goalkeeper having no chance of preventing the goal (last line block)."
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And SkyBet referenced this definition when explaining why they ruled Bellingham's effort to be a cross, saying: "Bellingham's delivery in the 91st minute was deemed a cross, not a shot on target, by our stats provider," on their official Twitter account.
However, one punter wasn't having any of it and declared that they'll be talking matters further by lodging a formal complaint against SkyBet's decision. The aggrieved fan listed a slew of reasons why the betting company's "assumption" that Bellingham crossed the ball wasn't a "fact".
What do you think – was it a shot or a cross? Watch the video below and let us know in the comments section
They argued the ferocity with which Bellingham struck the ball, compiled with the fact there was no recipient in the box to latch onto it, proved he meant to shoot, and urged the betting commission to examine the evidence if SkyBet couldn't reach a different conclusion.
The disgruntled supporter's viewpoint split fans down the middle, with some agreeing it was a shot, while others insisted it was clearly a cross. One fan said: "If it has to be stopped from going into the goal it should be a shot on target. Doesn’t matter if it’s intended or not, if it goes in they count it so no different if it’s stopped."
Another concurred: "The issue is based on assumption when, in fact, it should be based on outcome. If it’s an intended cross, then fine, but if it’s a cross that is mishit and is going in we’re it not for a save, then it should count as a SOT, as it would if the ball went into the net."
But a third user dismissed the claims and scoffed: "Not a shot though is it, can clearly see he’s scuffed a cross irrelevant of definitions." And a fourth user also denounced the grievance and added: "100% a scuffed cross. Doesn’t really matter that it ends up on target. Would you pay out if you laid that bet."
It was an eventful night in West London for Bellingham. While his dad reportedly held secret transfer talks with Real Madrid, the England prodigy was berated by Thiago Silva for clattering into Reece James and lost his rag at the end of the game when he was seen shoving a Chelsea star and a camera man in heated scenes.
The Daily Star has reached out to Sky Bet for comment but has not received a reply at this time.
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