First, I direct you to this article:  http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10418152/Wigan-squad-offer-refunds-after-rout.

    Now, when I read this there were already 25 comments on it that were all over the map, really-- anywhere from 'darn right those fans deserved a refund' to 'what a stupid waste of money for the team'.  My opinion is really quite separate from either of these points of view.
    I found if quite notable that this team did this.  I've never heard of anything like it in my experience.  My first thought was what an awesome idea it was!  I mean, really, it couldn't possibly do more to increase the loyalty of your fans.  Was the team obligated to refund the fans their money?  Certainly not, nor did those fans 'deserve' their money back.  They paid to see a game without any clause exempting them from payment should their preferred team lose.  But what a show of respect to those fans who traveled what I understand to be quite a distance for this match!  For the team to come out and say basically that their performance was akin to your brand new toaster breaking right out of the box and worthy of a refund is a very different attitude than the our-poo-smells-like-roses attitude of professional sports in general.  Average Americans (as well as many other nations) get very frustrated by the massive paychecks these guys bring in to sometimes seem as though they are asleep on whatever type of field or court they play on.  I would be willing to bet that this soccer club comes out ahead financially from this, anyway.  I'm sure their would have been many fans who became so disgruntled with paying however much to go see their boys get spanked so terribly that they would have not bought tickets again.  They will be much more likely to try again after such an impressive olive branch was extended.
    Classy, Wigan.  Very classy-- and I mean that sincerely this time, not sarcastically like I usually do!

CL