Gambler denied £500,000 windfall by referee blowing full time whistle in Leeds - Tottenham match ONE SECOND before crucial goal went in

One unlucky gambler has missed out on £500,000 in winnings on an accumulator bet after a referee ended an FA Cup match just one second before the ball was about to dribble over the line and give the man a vital correct score.

The Oldham-based punter, who unsurprisingly wishes remain anonymous, had placed a bet with Ladbrokes on Leeds to beat Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday, together with guesses at scores in several other games. He thought he was going to win when Leeds midfielder Rudolph Austin spotted a golden opportunity to score a long-range goal after Spurs goalkeeper left his net wide open to come upfield for one last attack in the closing seconds.

Yet referee Kevin Friend blew his full time whistle while the ball was still slowly rolling towards the net, meaning the match ended 2-1 despite the ball hitting the back of the net.

Though his wagers on other games meant that he won a respectable £17,055.80, the referee’s controverisla decision stopped him from taking home a cushy £506,562.