In 2008, Smith alleged his feud with Hughes started 18 months before, when he said in his autobiography that on 8 May 1972, Hughes told him that he had been speaking to a number of Arsenal players who were "willing to throw a match for £50 a man." Liverpool subsequently failed to win the vital match at Highbury, which allowed Derby County to snatch the title instead. Smith wrote that he was disgusted with what Hughes said and never spoke to him outside the field again. Smith maintained that the only witness was Ian Callaghan. Smith said he never told Shankly because it would have "broken his heart".