Sports Personality vote rigged?
Discussion
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
If there's money to be made, then this sort of thing is highly likely.
Phone votes only cost 15p from landlines in SPOTY....I'm sure a cooperative of 'interested parties' could have stumped up the (few thousand calls x 15p) cost to ensure a big payout.
Nice of the BBC to give them this opportunity every year just before Christmas
Phone votes only cost 15p from landlines in SPOTY....I'm sure a cooperative of 'interested parties' could have stumped up the (few thousand calls x 15p) cost to ensure a big payout.
Nice of the BBC to give them this opportunity every year just before Christmas
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
Surely because those 2 words don't mean the same thing. Although how Ryan Giggs won it I don't know.Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
Puggit said:
With Ryan Giggs, it's perfectly possible the vote was hijacked by football fans who have never watched their team play - ie Man Utd fans in Torquay.
There's so many of the glory hunters...
That wouldn't explain how Zara Phillips beat Darren Clark....or the other 'upsets'.There's so many of the glory hunters...
Although I reckon Chris Hoy was not a huge surprise given his medal haul!
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
DWP said:
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner.
Doesn't stop the theory being a valid one for investigation.The examples provided of consistent shock results suggests there is something unusual, either in the bookies predictive modelling or the voting.
I believe the cheap cost of votes versus other 'public phone vote' type programmes, makes it a prime candidate for attempted rigging for financial return.
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Or the numerous threads on the very many web forums? Even the Man United forums admitting to organised vote rigging?
Tony*T3 said:
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Or the numerous threads on the very many web forums? Even the Man United forums admitting to organised vote rigging?
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Or the numerous threads on the very many web forums? Even the Man United forums admitting to organised vote rigging?
Why was he ever shortlisted? That's where any enquiries should start.
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Or the numerous threads on the very many web forums? Even the Man United forums admitting to organised vote rigging?
DSM2 said:
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
DWP said:
Tony*T3 said:
Rumours are spreading that the Sports Personality of the Year voting has been rigged. For the fourth year running, the odds on favourite has failed to win. This has been coupled with a surge in late betting for an outsider.
So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Rumours? An article in a rag too crap to be called a newspaper. Which just happens to slag of the BBC whenever it can, on behalf of it's owner. So has the BBC cocked up royally on this? Either leaked information or corupt system? Can telephone votes be easily manipulated?
In 2006, horse rider Zara Phillips beat Ryder Cup golf hero Darren Clarke.
In 2007, third favourite Joe Calzaghe triumphed over F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
And in 2008, Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy also beat Hamilton.
Its easy to dismiss the Lewis Hamilton losses as 'nobody likes Lewis anyway'. And the actual winners are probbaly 'nicer people'. But surely he was by far the most high profile sportsman of the year?
The bookies dont make a living out of being wrong, so whats going on?
Is the vote being manipulated by some betting syndicates?
Or the numerous threads on the very many web forums? Even the Man United forums admitting to organised vote rigging?
Why was he ever shortlisted? That's where any enquiries should start.
Just like Zara Phillips in 2006
Puggit said:
With Ryan Giggs, it's perfectly possible the vote was hijacked by football fans who have never watched their team play - ie Man Utd fans in Torquay.
Which is exactly what I thought had happened, the question is was whether it was organised or not. If it was I don't see how it's any different to the situation in 1991 when Bob Nudd had all his votes cast from readers of Angling Times rejected, or Justin Fashanu being disqualified in 1996 due to a campaign in the Gay Times.Hmmmm.....
Premiership issues an order that all managers must speak to all accredited media, including the BBC.
In other news, Manchester United player Ryan Giggs (most loyal servant of that well known hater of all things BBC, Sir Alex Ferguson) mysteriously wins the Sports Personality Of The Year.
Wonder if these two events could be possibly related?......
Premiership issues an order that all managers must speak to all accredited media, including the BBC.
In other news, Manchester United player Ryan Giggs (most loyal servant of that well known hater of all things BBC, Sir Alex Ferguson) mysteriously wins the Sports Personality Of The Year.
Wonder if these two events could be possibly related?......
Edited by The Hypno-Toad on Tuesday 15th December 12:06
Chris Hoy won purely and simply because the cycling fans got their act together early. Even then it should really have gone to Wiggins who is the better rider, but the Scots would never have voted for him.
This year Cavendish was in the frame, but the campaign seemed to lack emphasis, especially as it was predicted that bike riders winning back to back would never be tolerated.
This year Cavendish was in the frame, but the campaign seemed to lack emphasis, especially as it was predicted that bike riders winning back to back would never be tolerated.
A little o/t, but a friend of mine is a fireman. One day last week, was either Thursday or a Friday, they were called to Cheryl Cole's house as the fire alarm had gone off.
Anyhow, turned out it was a false alarm. But before they left she told a couple of the lads to put their ££££ on Joe as Simon had already decided who was going to win. Interesting!
Anyhow, turned out it was a false alarm. But before they left she told a couple of the lads to put their ££££ on Joe as Simon had already decided who was going to win. Interesting!
Does sound very suspicious.
According to a Eursport article HERE
The Eurosport article goes on to say that Giggs beat Button by 55,000 votes (151k to 96k). Assuming that a betting syndicate cast a LOT of extra votes, say 75,000, that would have cost them £11,250 which would have been very easy to get back, assuming the liquidity was ok in the market.
The voting logs would probably need to be analysed as well as the betting patterns to prove anything.
EDIT:
Having said all that, there are a lot of people over on the Betfair forums who were predicting Giggs as the winner as far back as November.
According to a Eursport article HERE
Eurosport said:
Giggs, who at one stage this year was a 999-1 shot on the betting exchange, saw his odds plunge from 3-1 to 8-11 in the final hour of the show as punters, some wagering six-figure sums, backed the Manchester United star to win ahead of previous favourite, Formula One champion Jenson Button.
Betfair spokesperson Tony Calvin said: "It was a very surprising gamble that came from left field and it's open to speculation what might have happened.
"We know who struck every bet and we will be investigating the betting patterns. If anything untoward is discovered, we will notify the Gambling Commission.
"Certainly the amount of money on the night on Giggs winning was unexpected."
Betfair is very good at spotting dodgy betting patterns and the late flood of money is an ominous sign.Betfair spokesperson Tony Calvin said: "It was a very surprising gamble that came from left field and it's open to speculation what might have happened.
"We know who struck every bet and we will be investigating the betting patterns. If anything untoward is discovered, we will notify the Gambling Commission.
"Certainly the amount of money on the night on Giggs winning was unexpected."
The Eurosport article goes on to say that Giggs beat Button by 55,000 votes (151k to 96k). Assuming that a betting syndicate cast a LOT of extra votes, say 75,000, that would have cost them £11,250 which would have been very easy to get back, assuming the liquidity was ok in the market.
The voting logs would probably need to be analysed as well as the betting patterns to prove anything.
EDIT:
Having said all that, there are a lot of people over on the Betfair forums who were predicting Giggs as the winner as far back as November.
Edited by mouseymousey on Tuesday 15th December 16:57
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