Paddy Power Removes Offensive Tweet

Paddy Power has earned a reputation for extreme marketing but this week the company may have pushed the envelope a bit too far on Twitter, which was subsequently removed. Prior to the Newcastle vs. Liverpool football match, Paddy Power made reference to the American controversy surrounding the recording of African-American police beatings in the following tweet: "Newcastle have suffered more Kop beatings over the last 20 years than an unarmed African-American male". "Kop" is a UK reference to the steep terraces of football stadiums where the diehard fans often sit. The social media response spread like wildfire and it wasn't good. The company opted to remove the tweet. A total of 5,525 complaints were submitted to the ASA leading to the withdrawal of the comment.