Soccer: World bookmakers pay out on Owen

Punters backing Michael Owen received an unexpected bonus after England's opening goal in Saturday's 3-0 World Cup victory over Denmark, credited widely to Rio Ferdinand, was declared an own goal by leading bookmakers.

Under their rules, that meant the bookies paid out on 7-2 chance Owen, scorer of the second goal, and not Ferdinand, supported by a few at 40-1.

"It was a fantastic bonus for the tens of thousands of punters who backed Owen to be the first goalscorer," said Graham Sharpe, spokesman for bookmakers William Hill.

"Some Rio Ferdinand supporters who backed him at 40-1 may be a little miffed, but he clearly did not put the ball over the line and our rules are quite clear."

FIFA's official website has Ferdinand scoring the first goal but Hill's will pay out only on Owen, not Ferdinand, Sharpe said.

England's first goal came as keeper Thomas Sorensen bundled Ferdinand's header over the line from a fifth minute corner.

- REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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