Let’s be honest for a moment and say firstly that the words ‘football’ and ‘scandal’ are no strangers to each other and more often than not, the situation has been somewhat overblown, usually with the intentions of increasing sales of one red-top newspaper or another. These scandals have ranged from all manner of debauchery from the footballers themselves, the managers and even members of the Board. In short, sensationalist headlines surrounding the nocturnal habits of people with far more money than either sense or indeed taste. The fans, though perhaps outraged to some degree at first, will soon forgive and forget these minor deviations from the straight and narrow so long as the players are performing on the pitch.
We live in a world that is seemingly obsessed with what everyone else is doing at all times of the day and night and it is to be expected that such stories will fill the pages of the tabloids and the bulging magazine stands. What is far more worrying to read over your morning coffee is that today’s particular scandal of choice is of a betting nature.
Now betting scandals are not exactly new within the game of football but, in England, we like to think that the problem is someone else’s to deal with, for it has usually concerned Far-East bookmakers, the Turkish underworld and Italian clubs to name a few of the parties that have been implicated in the past. That hasn’t always been the case though as way back in 1915, there was a famous case of a betting scandal concerning two of the biggest clubs in England.
The 1915 Scandal
With the league about to be shut down at the end of the season due to the First World War, it was perhaps believed that the powers that be would have more important things to worry about than the result of a football match. Liverpool, in a safe position in the league were playing a Manchester United team struggling to avoid relegation, and had within their ranks former United player Jackie Sheldon, who was the plot’s ringleader. Sheldon, along with 6 others (3 from each side – though there would’ve been more involved had some refused to join in, with some later testifying against their former colleagues at The FA’s hearing which saw all players involved issued with life bans) set about ‘manufacturing’ a United victory, going to the lengths of not passing to those who had refused to take part. Liverpool also missed a penalty during the game, whilst a Liverpool player had threatened to score in order to nullify their attempts. As it happened, heavy betting on a 2-0 result later came to light and the bans were implemented. All but one of the players involved (Enoch West of United sued the FA for libel – and lost) would later have these lifted as recognition to their service during the War. Neither club received any punishment.
The 1964 Scandal
In a further betting scandal which started in 1962 and which was led purely by greed, ten footballers were found guilty and sentenced to varying jail sentences, with the longest period being 4 years for the central figure, ex-footballer Jimmy Gauld. Gauld would approach players of mainly lower-league clubs in order to entice them into throwing certain matches which the players involved would bet against their own teams. When a Hartlepool United player confessed to his involvement, the role of Gauld came to light and in one last deperate attempt, yet again fuelled by his own greed, he sold his story to the Sunday People for £7000, incriminating the other involved parties, leading to their arrests and life bans from football. The prison sentences ranged from 4-15 months for the players involved. In total, 33 players were prosecuted.
In the years since those scandals, there have been various forms of ‘spot-fixing’ which have been highlighted, involving things such as the time of the first throw in in a particular match, leading to the team kicking off before kicking the ball directly into touch. There have also been times where players have been caught out placing bets on a match played in the same league that they themselves play in, though these could well be just innocent, if not a little naïve, lapses on their part. Indeed, one player implicated in one such scandal a few years ago had placed just a £5 bet on a particular result as part of an accumulator bet. Surely the safest thing to do would be to outlaw any professional footballer from betting on any football match. It is better to be safe than to be banned, or worse.
Within the last fortnight, 2 players from non-league Whitehawk FC were arrested and sacked by the club following their involvement in a match-rigging scandal, whilst former Premier League footballer-turned agent Delroy Facey, along with footballing brothers Sam and Akpo Sodje amongst others were also involved in a scandal concerning players receiving bookings in return for fixed sums of money.
Far-Eastern bookmakers also allege that they have a number of players under their control for whom money is readily available in return for the guarantee of a set number of goals being scored in a particular match. They also intimate that as a sign of the players readiness to go along with the plan, they are willing to also pick up an early booking to signal their commitment, also in return for a little additional ‘pocket money’.
The unwelcome news that scandals such as these are replacing the nocturnal affairs of the young and famous on the front and back pages is not something that we need in the game of football and the sooner the authorities come down hard on any individual connected, the better for all concerned. Today’s latest breaking story details the involvement of current Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell, who was a Premier League player as recently as last season with QPR, is unnerving to say the least, as once the integrity of a sport is compromised, the road to gaining back the trust of all parties is a long and difficult one to tread.
Greed will always be a part of the game, but taking greed to such extents should leave the players involved without a leg to stand on should they ever be found out. There is absolutely no place in football for this type of thing and life bans, without the option of an appeal has to be the route that The FA take in order to ensure that a few bad apples don’t spoil the whole barrel.
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