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A GAME OF TWO SCARVES: JAMIE REDKNAPP INVESTIGATES THE TRAGEDY OF HALF-AND-HALF SCARVES IN FOOTBALL

Published

4 years ago

January 21, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

New Paddy Power series sees Redknapp chance his arm as documentary maker to learn about the origins of one of the worst things to happen to football

Footballer-turned-pundit, Jamie Redknapp, is now stepping into the world of hard-hitting documentaries to tackle one of the biggest issues in the modern-day game…the half-and-half scarf.

Paddy Power’s Jamie Redknapp Investigates is a new series that will see the former Liverpool and Spurs legend get to the bottom of the things that really annoy football fans about the modern game.

Episode one sees Redknapp get to the bottom of half-and-half scarves – the ghastly neckwear issue, described by fans he interviews as “Filth”, “Foul” and “So sh*t”.

In the first of a three part series – with episodes two and three released over the fortnight – Redknapp reveals the industry is now worth “over half a billion pounds” and tracks down the inventor of the half-and-half scarf.

The inventor, Brian, explains that the inspiration behind joining two separate scarves together was his own divorce, after his wife cut everything he owned in half.

Sewing his Arsenal and Holland neckwear together, Brian created the world’s first half-and-half scarf – which rather unfortunately reads “Arse land”.

But, at what cost? “Half-and-half scarves have a very short shelf life,” says Redknapp’s next interviewee – environmental activist, Lisa.

Discarded items can unfortunately find their way into nature, with Lisa reporting sightings of a baboon wearing a scarf featuring Tony Pulis at one end Sean Dyche at the other. Although Lisa does say that there aren’t health implications for the animals, they “just look really stupid”.

Redknapp then returns to see Brian once more as he’s told there’s a gift waiting for him. And, after showing off his diversified portfolio (including Manchester United and Liverpool half-and-half facemasks), the inventor gives the former England international his present.

Unfortunately, the Redknapp edition scarf features Harry at one end but the wrong Jamie at the other – Jamie Vardy.

Episode two of Paddy Power’s Jamie Redknapp Investigates, released next Friday, will see Jamie taking on Twitter trolls.

Spokesman Paddy Power said: “Forget diving, dodgy VAR calls and people leaving early – half-and-half scarves are the biggest disgrace in football right now. So, we put our best man on the case to investigate and uncover the ugly truth about this scourge of modern football that we know annoys all proper football fans across the country.

“Because there are some things that just don’t look right together, like pasta and ketchup or Tottenham and trophies.”

The full video can be viewed on Paddy Power’s YouTube and Twitter pages.

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

13 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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