Sports Extra
Sports Betting: Are Football Players Allowed To Bet? – [Read The Rules]
Are Football Players Allowed To Bet? – One of the big questions floating around the internet year after year is whether football players across leagues are allowed to bet on football matches.
Sports Betting As A Thing
Sports betting has become increasingly prevalent, to the extent that even affluent athletes derive pleasure from occasionally wagering on their favoured teams. The inclination of professional athletes towards gambling is steadily escalating, thereby necessitating official prohibitions as the sole deterrent against unethical conduct and potentially fraudulent activities.
This phenomenon is particularly evident within football associations, which are keen on averting gambling among soccer players. Consequently, numerous enthusiasts are left pondering why footballers are prohibited from betting on their own teams.
To address many of the queries on and off the internet, Sportxparte has decided to explore and bring you answers to whether footballers are permitted or not to engage in sports betting.
Ban On Sports Betting For Footballers, Staff
Before we dig deeper, it is worthy of note that the Football Association (FA) has implemented a global prohibition on football betting for all individuals associated with the sport at the Premier League, English Football League, National League, The FA Women’s Super League, and The FA Women’s Championship levels. This restriction also extends to those affiliated with clubs in the Northern, Southern, and Isthmian leagues.
The ban encompasses any form of betting on matches occurring anywhere in the world, as well as any other football-related matters, including transfers, managerial appointments and dismissals, or the provision of information to direct someone to place a bet on one’s behalf or for their own gain, Sportxparte understands.
Trap Of Match Fixing
The answer remains capital NO on whether footballers (professional footballers) are allowed to place bets or not. As you may already know, betting is a prevalent activity, with both offline and online bookmakers readily available.
While it may be acceptable for the average player to place a deposit and engage in free spins, the situation drastically changes when it involves athletes and betting. Although casino games are permitted for most athletes, sports betting is prohibited for a specific reason.
There exists a significant ethical concern here, as athletes could easily succumb to the temptation of match-fixing. Upon reflection, it becomes evident that a goalkeeper, for instance, could intentionally allow a forward to score a goal in order to profit from a bet. Allowing footballers to engage in betting would undoubtedly unleash a host of problems, and no soccer association is prepared to endorse such a practice.
Records have it that there were times were match-fixing was common in Italy in the country’s top leagues. However, it is worth noting that such occurrences have brought the integrity of the game into question, with some of the most prominent teams and players in Serie A being implicated in potential match-fixing. This is a significant factor in the prohibition of football players from engaging in betting activities. While some may be inclined to place wagers on matches that do not involve them, others may exploit any leniency in this regard and exceed the permissible limits.
Man watching football play online broadcast on his laptop, cheering for his favourite team, making bets at bookmaker’s website.
Can Players Bet On Their Club’s Matches?
Although it may seem evident, it is imperative to examine the rationale behind the prohibition of footballers betting on their own matches. For instance, if a defender were to place a substantial wager on their team’s victory, it is logical to assume that they would exert every effort to ensure their team secures all three points.
Nevertheless, as professional footballers who are remunerated by their respective clubs, they are already obligated to perform to the best of their abilities and should not require the additional motivation of winning a substantial sum through gambling.
Match Manipulation
On the contrary, it is possible for the same player to place a bet on their own team’s loss. In the event that their team is tied 1-1 with only a few minutes remaining, it is logical to assume that this player would be inclined to manipulate the situation in order for the opposing team to score and secure victory, thereby ensuring their bet is successful. Although this behaviour is highly cynical, it is reasonable to suggest that if a player is willing to bet on an event in which they can significantly influence the outcome, they may also be inclined to act dishonestly in their approach to the game.
This is precisely why the involvement of footballers in betting on football is considered a dubious matter. While footballers may excel on the field, it is widely acknowledged that few can be regarded as virtuous individuals. Consequently, there may be players who prioritize personal financial gain over fair assistance towards their team’s success. Granting a person the ability to control the outcome of a game they have wagered on bestows an excessive amount of power upon them.
FA Worldwide Betting Ban For Players
In 2014, the Football Association (FA) implemented a regulation that prohibited players from the top eight leagues within the English football league system from engaging in any form of betting, regardless of their location worldwide. Prior to this, the regulations concerning betting were considerably more lenient, with players only being prohibited from betting on matches involving their own teams.
This particular rule proved to be inadequate, as footballers, even when their team was not directly involved, could possess privileged information regarding injuries or team updates that could potentially influence their betting decisions. Such access to inside information creates an unfair advantage for those who possess it, in contrast to those who do not.
Furthermore, players are also prohibited from engaging in any activities that could be perceived as the dissemination of inside information. This encompasses the sharing of transfer news, undisclosed injuries, or team updates that have not yet been made public. The FA also imposes penalties on players who are discovered to be indirectly involved in betting through their family members and/or friends.
Penalties For Players Caught Betting
Suspension: Punishment for football players caught in the act of sports betting is contingent upon the football association, league, and team, Sportxparte understands.
In the case of the Football Association in England, if a player is discovered engaging in betting or match-fixing, the FA will likely conduct an interview with the player and request the submission of betting account statements, bank statements, and itemized phone bills.
Regarding penalties and suspensions of a financial nature, if the player is found guilty, they may be subject to such penalties and suspensions and, in severe cases, even face lifetime bans. From the perspective of a club, they may also choose to impose their own penalties. Instances have occurred in global football where a club has terminated a player’s contract upon their conviction for breaching betting laws.
Can Players Engage in Different Types of Bets?
For certain footballers, gambling a portion of their funds is a recreational activity they enjoy. They are typically able to place wagers on horse racing or dog races, and may also participate in legitimate casino betting.
This is permissible because the players have no influence over the outcome of events in these circumstances. Consequently, they may partake in a game of cards or attend a day at the races, but they should refrain from betting on football.
Examples Of Football Players That Have Been Banned For Betting
- Joey Barton
- Daniel Sturridge
- Wayne Shaw –
- Ivan Toney
- Andros Towsend
- Matt Le Tissier
- Kieran Trippier
- Cameron Jerome
- Martin Demichelis
- Jordan Stevens
- Scott Kashket
- Dan Gosling
