Scottish FA to stand by strict anti-gambling rules

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailBBC – Players in Scotland are prohibited from betting on any football match.

But there were calls for that to change after Rangers midfielder Ian Black was suspended and fined £7,500.

“At the moment, there are no plans to change our processes and, indeed, we are sharing our definitions with other associations,” said Regan.

“In many ways, a number of associations are looking at what the Scottish FA have in place right now.

“Recently, we held a conference at St Andrews and one of the guest speakers there was Ian Smith from the Professional Cricketers’ Association, who said that the stance that the Scottish FA has taken is absolutely the right stance.

“Why open yourselves up to further dangers by relaxing the rules we have in place?”

While there were never any suggestions that Black was involved in match-fixing, Regan said: “It is the thin end of the wedge.

“We know that betting in football, we know that match fixing in football, is becoming a major threat to the game across the world.

“In parts of the Fifa jurisdiction and, indeed, parts of Eastern Europe within Fifa, these issues are rife and are causing a major problem for football.”

Black was banned for three matches – with a further seven suspended until the end of the season – as well as being fined after admitting to breaching betting regulations.

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