Soccer Manager Avoids Ban After Breaching Betting Rules

Soccer Manager Avoids Ban After Breaching Betting Rules

Time Stamp: September 15, 2023 10:08 AM

Gambled nearly £1m

The English Football Association (FA) has denied that it covered up an investigation involving an unnamed manager who breached its betting rules.

The person known as Manager A – who can’t be named for legal reasons unconnected to the gambling issue – gambled nearly £1m ($1.2m), mainly on horseracing. 28 bets, however, were placed on his own sport, violating FA rules. Rather than taking steps against Manager A, the FA decided not to take any action other than to issue a warning.

there are legal restrictions on us being able to name the individual”

The 28 bets on soccer were small, with three placed after the governing body issued a blanket betting ban in 2014. The FA said: “The reports that suggest that this has been a secret process are categorically incorrect. There are legal restrictions on us being able to name the individual, which are unconnected with the betting matter.”

Sentences for other players

The news of Manager A only getting a warning comes at a time when others have received fines and bans from the FA over betting breaches.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo had received a suspended five-month ban for betting-related offenses after admitting to 375 violations of the FA’s wagering rules between January 2014 and March 2017. The defender also has to pay a £20,956 ($26,188) fine.

It’s not known why Toffolo received a suspended sentence, but he got off lighter than Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is currently serving an eight-month ban for 232 betting breaches. It’s believed Toney received a tougher sentence because he placed bets on his own team to lose games.

Court case

During a court case last year, former soccer players Alan Rogers and Steven Jennings were accused of trying to blackmail Manager A. When giving evidence, he admitted he had a gambling addiction. As a result of the court case, Manager A was given anonymity and is said to still be working in the top four divisions of English football.

According to evidence heard in court, the manager had bet £879,000 ($1.09m) in a two-year period with losses of £270,000 ($335,000).

Rogers was charged with one count of blackmail as well as perverting the course of justice. Jennings was charged with two counts of blackmail and one of perverting the course of justice. Both denied the allegations and the charges were dropped after the manager decided he no longer wanted to give evidence.

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