FAI postpones hearing into match betting

It is not only in Asia where investigations take place into illegal betting on football but in Gareth McGlynn’s case it can hardly be called match fixing especially as he lost his bets. A week or so ago Sammy Morrow currently a player with Coleraine was given a 3 month ban by FIFA having been found guilty of breaking rules by betting on a domestic game and it is thought that this investigation also highlighted McGlynns case which is being handled by the FAI. A hearing was supposed to take place last Tuesday “in relation to two individuals connected with the former Derry City Football Club” but was postponed. The FAI did not name the players but McGlynn who now plays for Bohemians was quick to confirm he was one of the players but insisted he had not broken the spirit of  rule 100 even if he may have technically done so. He readily admits to having placed small bets on four games in 2008 and 2009 but is at pains to point out that none of the games involved Derry and there was no way in which he could influence the outcome of those games. He went on to say “at the time that I placed these bets, I was not aware of the full text of Rule 100. I genuinely believed that the rule simply prohibited me from betting on matches involving my own club and I was shocked to discover otherwise. I accept that the placing of these bets represents a technical breach of rule 100”. “I have not broken the spirit of the rule and I had no more advantage or knowledge than the average punter”. “It is also worth noting that the bets were placed through a betfair account which is an entirely transparent process”.

For what it’s worth we agree with him and hope that the hearing which now takes place in April bears that in mind.