Football Dynasty-Chapter 52: Paddy Power Making Waves

This year's World Cup opening will go down as one of the most shocking in history.

It was more than just a match—it was a statement. A statement that African football is a force to be reckoned with. Or at least, that's the message they sent to the world.

Is it skill or just pure luck?

But this isn't the first time, is it?

People were at a loss.

They thought they had finally turned the tables.

Some had even convinced themselves that this time, they would be the ones getting their revenge or walking away with fortunes. But in the end, it was Richard—again—who walked away with another £100,000,000 from just a single match.

Now, they had learned their lesson. They weren't just watching football anymore; they were watching Richard. Waiting. Hoping. They wanted him to place another bet so they could follow his lead.

But then, just like before, he was gone.

No one had seen him. No one knew where he went. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth.

People were going mad. Some searched for him, but did anyone really know where he lived now? Others cursed his name, unable to accept that they had been played yet again.

After the group stage concluded, Richard sighed in relief. It wasn't that he wanted to avoid betting, but with the unpredictable nature of the group stage, he didn't dare take the risk.

More importantly, he couldn't help but admire the sheer talent on display—watching these players in action only deepened his appreciation for the game.

'Probably after the Bosman ruling, I should start focusing on scouting players in Africa and South America,' he thought.

The biggest upset in the group stage came from Group F, where England, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, and Egypt battled it out.

Eric grinned as he counted his winnings from betting on England, a cigar lazily hanging from his lips. But even he had to admit—seeing Ireland finish above the Netherlands was something no one had expected.

Pundits had predicted the Dutch, reigning European champions, to dominate. Instead, they scraped through in third place, while Ireland, against all odds, held their ground and secured a spot above them.

In the Round of 16, Richard still didn't make an appearance. For a moment, he considered wagering on Yugoslavia to win against Spain, but uncertainty held him back.

He wasn't entirely sure how the match would unfold, so he chose to stay cautious and hold his ground.

As the football world awaited the start of the 1990–91 season, an important announcement shook English football.

Concerns over crime and public safety—especially the growing issue of football hooliganism—had reached a breaking point in the UK. With violent clashes dominating the headlines, the government could no longer turn a blind eye.

The Heysel Stadium disaster in the 1980s had marked the darkest Chapter of football hooliganism. Combined with the tragedy of Hillsborough, it was clear that something had to change.

Clubs such as West Ham United, Millwall, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Fulham, Charlton Athletic, and Wimbledon were at the center of this growing issue.

At the same time, a separate but equally significant development was unfolding—London Weekend Television's managing director, Greg Dyke, had met with representatives of England's "big five" football clubs over dinner.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and Arsenal.

Many media outlets speculated that the meeting was about reforming the Football League First Division, which had long lagged behind leagues such as Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga in terms of attendance and revenue.

Considering that this meeting took place right after European football's governing body lifted the five-year ban on English clubs competing in European competitions—was this just a coincidence?

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Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived—the quarter-finals. People thought the matches would be thrilling.

Argentina, Yugoslavia, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, West Germany, Cameroon, and England.

The first game of the last eight saw Argentina face a Yugoslav side that was reduced to 10 men after only half an hour. The match ended in a goalless stalemate, and Argentina advanced to the semi-finals after winning the penalty shootout 3–2, despite Maradona having his penalty saved. To summarize: boring.

The Republic of Ireland's World Cup run came to an end with a single goal from Schillaci in the first half of their quarter-final against hosts Italy. Ireland became the team that advanced the furthest in a World Cup without winning a single match.

This match was widely criticized as excessively dull, filled with back-passing and goalkeepers deliberately wasting time. During the match, Irish goalkeeper Packie Bonner held the ball for nearly six minutes. To summarize: boring.

In the third match, West Germany defeated Czechoslovakia with a 25th-minute penalty from Lothar Matthäus. To summarize: boring.

Finally, England vs. Cameroon was the only quarter-final to produce more than one goal. Despite Cameroon's earlier heroics in the tournament, David Platt put England ahead in the 25th minute.

In the second half, the game was turned on its head within a five-minute stretch: first, Cameroon was awarded a penalty, and Emmanuel Kundé scored the equalizer. Then, in the 65th minute, Eugène Ekéké put Cameroon ahead.

People thought Cameroon would create another miracle and plunge the Three Lions into despair, but they were just eight minutes away from the semi-finals when they conceded a penalty, which Gary Lineker converted. Midway through extra time, England was awarded another penalty, and Lineker again scored from the spot.

England was through to the semi-finals for the first time since 1966.

The streets of London were alive with celebration. A sea of people flooded the roads, waving flags, singing, and cheering in unison. Fans climbed onto lampposts and perched on rooftops, desperate for a better view of the historic moment.

Richard shook his head at the sight. 'They haven't even won yet, but they're already celebrating like champions.'

Of course, Richard remembered this match. However, it wasn't because he was confident about the outcome or had a strong feeling—it was because of the famous "Gazza tears" after the match.

Tensions are at an all-time high. Two giants of international football are set to face off in a match that will echo the legendary 1966 final.

The world is watching, and expectations are sky-high.

But amid the footballing frenzy, a new player in the game—Paddy Power—was determined to make waves.

The moment Richard told Fay, "West Germany, a hundred million pounds—ALL IN!" the marketing team sprang into action.

Fay nearly passed out—not because he questioned his own sanity, but because of the commission. Within minutes:

Billboards across London flashed: "One Man. One Mad Bet. £100,000,000 on West Germany—Will He Regret It?"

The message was impossible to miss, from Piccadilly Circus to underground station ads, turning the bet into a national spectacle.

Radio stations buzzed with debate, with callers arguing over whether Richard was a visionary or a fool.

Then came Eric. The moment he heard that Richard had put his entire £100,000,000 winnings from Cameroon on West Germany, he dropped his cigar mid-puff.

Eric Hall—just as controversial, just as brash—couldn't stand to watch the madness unfold without jumping in, and Paddy Power definitely didn't want to miss out.

"OH, SOD THIS!" he roared before slamming a million-pound bet on England in retaliation.

Paddy Power then rebranded the game with the eye-catching title "The Billion-Pound Bloodbath," offering odds on which of the two men would collapse first.

Who will throw the first punch?

- Maddox – 7/2

- Hall – 9/2

- A random bookie trying to break them up – 25/1

Who will crack first?

- Maddox (Overwhelmed by his own insanity) – 3/1

- Eric Hall (Cigar-induced heart attack) – 5/1

Limited-edition Paddy Power betting slips were printed with Maddox and Hall's faces, captioned:"Gamble like a legend—or lose like one."

They even handed out exclusive t-shirts that read: "I Bet He'd Collapse First... AND I WAS RIGHT!" Free for anyone who placed a bet.

The next morning, newspaper headlines screamed:

"INSANITY OR GENIUS? THE BET THAT COULD SHOCK FOOTBALL" – The Times

"£100 MILLION ON THE LINE: ONE MAN'S GAMBLE, A NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH" – Daily Mail

Finally, following Richard's recommendation, Paddy Power even partnered with some media companies to expand their reach beyond London, the UK, and Britain, aiming to captivate audiences across Europe and, if possible, the entire world.

Platforms like Usenet allowed people to post and reply to messages in topic-based forums—think of it as an early version of Reddit. Additionally, CompuServe and Prodigy provided services like email, forums, news, and chat rooms.

Richard definitely wanted to harness the power of these early ancestors of modern social media!

The war was no longer just on the pitch—it was in the bookies, on the streets, and across the early internet. Dignity, national pride, betrayal, and who would be obliterated first.

And Paddy Power? They were laughing all the way to the bank.

"Holy shit!" Fay, the head of the entire project, nearly fell out of his chair. His eyes widened as he stared at the latest numbers on the records.

Every bookmaker under Paddy Power's umbrella was swamped. Some shops had queues stretching down the block, with punters desperate to get their money in before kickoff. The phone lines were jammed. Even international betting partners were reporting record-breaking engagement.

One of the junior analysts turned to Fay, his voice shaking. "Sir... we've just hit an all-time betting record. This—this is bigger than the Grand National."

Fay gulped. He had been in the gambling business for years, but this? This was madness. A single bet had turned into a worldwide frenzy.

And the best part? No matter who won or lost, Paddy Power was about to make a killing.

Kickoff was moments away. An obscure national television network followed the two men, documenting their every reaction in real time as the match approached, determined to boost their ratings with this event.

Richard was sweating this time. The brick phone on the table wouldn't stop ringing. He knew it was probably his mom.

'I'm sorry, Mom. I'll take the beating, but not this time,' Richard silently muttered into his hand.