Paddy Power has announced its ‘Justice Refund’ initiative, which will return stakes to any bettor who has backed any team who finished second to Manchester City since 2011.
The club is currently facing 115 charges from the Premier League relating to breaches to financial fair play (FFP) regulations between 2009 and 2023.
Out of the 115 charges, 54 were for failure to provide accurate financial information from 2009 to 2018, while 14 pertained to failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments during the same time period.
A further five charges related to failing to comply with UEFA’s FFP regulations and seven were for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainabilty rules (PSR) between 2015 and 2018.
The remaining 35 charges were resultant of failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigations between 2018 and 2023.
The case has been ongoing since 2023 although a verdict has yet to be delivered.
While the matter rumbles on, Paddy Power has decided to refund players who backed one of the three teams who finished second to City during the Premier League’s investigation window.
They were Manchester United (2011-12, 2017-18 and 2020-21), Liverpool (2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22) and Arsenal (2022-23 and 2023-24).
Paddy Power estimates the seven-figure refund will give stakes back to more than 100,000 bettors.
The operator has used celebrity Coleen Rooney to help promote the campaign, as a nod to her involvement in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel court case from 2022.
A Paddy Power statement read: “This FFP investigation has been dragging on for years and years, with fans being left completely in the dark.
“So, if those running the game won’t get it sorted, we thought it was about time someone stood up on the side of supporters.
“That’s why we’ve issued our biggest-ever Justice Refund, to give something back to those fans who have been waiting, and waiting, for any white smoke on the investigation to emerge from the Premier League.”
Rooney added: “Fans invest so much into football, emotionally and financially, and sometimes it feels like they don’t get much back. This was a fun way to shine a light on that, while actually giving something back to the people who make the game what it is.”
The refund will be more than double the previous largest amount that Paddy Power had ever returned to customers.
The former record related to the 2022 World Cup when Cristiano Ronaldo claimed a goal for Portugal that was officially given to Bruno Fernandes, with Paddy Power eventually settling it as a goal and a shot on target.
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming senior vice-president Alun Bowden said: “100,000 accounts being refunded. Bearing in mind this is bets from many years ago and this is hardly a big VIP betting market and all refunds are free bets and capped at a grand I doubt this even reaches seven-figures.
“It’s clever, interesting and funny and will cut through at a really important part of the season. Got to like it.”
The post Paddy Power issues “biggest ever refund” with Coleen Rooney marketing effort first appeared on EGR Intel.
‘Justice Refund’ initiative returns stake to any bettor who backed a team which finished second to Manchester City since 2011, amid ongoing investigation into the club’s financial fair play dealings
The post Paddy Power issues “biggest ever refund” with Coleen Rooney marketing effort first appeared on EGR Intel.