How do you find out that a footballer is betting on the game? They don’t walk into bookies and hand a slip over at the counter, this stuff is all done on smartphones or by telephone.
Betting information is protected by the Data Protection Act, the SFA have no authority to ask and bookmakers have no authority to tell, even if they know a player is breaking SFA rules.
Even if a player sits in the dressing room, and announces that he’s just bet on the match about to take place, and all his team-mates reported him, he would be able to dismiss the charge on the basis that his comments were a joke. No one could prove otherwise.
But, very specific charges are levelled at players.
The betting industry survives on the quality of their information being better than that of their customers. “Are you likely to win at the weekend?”, “Any inside info on who the new manager will be?”, “Who’s struggling to be fit for Saturday (and therefore unlikely to be first scorer)?”
If you are a player, you have the inside line on a market worth hundreds of millions each year. Football has an unhealthy relationship with bookmakers, at some clubs, the betting partner has their own lounge and has full access to the players’ lounge. Many players are big gamblers and some have big incomes. They are both significant clients for bookies and potential sources of inside information. Like many big gamblers, they are offered special odds, not available to the general public.
Let me tell you one way of catching a player who is gambling on football. He is tempted away from his old bookie to one who has become friendly with, possibly after giving his former bookie a bum steer on a striker who was supposed to be injured. The former bookie then ‘discovers’ that the name on one of their accounts doesn’t match the name on the linked bank account, and that this account holder is a footballer.
The bookie is now officially concerned that illegal match fixing is going on. With the possibility of criminality (even if it is without basis), they can alert the authorities. That would teach the player a lesson for leaving, while making money through advantageous odds and feeding bum information back, and destroy whatever competitive advantage the other bookie has.
Does anyone know of any other way a specific charge of gambling on football could be raised?
Maybe the players are all just daft laddies. Maybe the SFA decline to release reports into players gambling because there is nothing to see in them. Maybe you can break the rules on betting but not be punished because it’s a silly rule.
You don’t need to be match fixing to be involved in serious criminality when dealing with a bookmaker. The football watching public need transparency from the SFA on this issue, no matter how much money floods into the game from the gambling industry.
Book your tickets now for the CQN11 St Patrick’s Day event at the Kerrydale Suite on Friday 13 March. It’s going to be another great Celtic night. You can buy tickets direct near the bottom of this page or email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com
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If Armstrong to some is not worth 3 million then you are pretty much ruling out any northern and Western European league midfielder worth a first team start as most would command a fee North of 3million. Try it yourself, England nope, Holland no, Belgium no etc.
We seem to think value resides where no one else sees it. That place seems to be Israel. Biton has taken 3 years to get the run he is getting now. Kayal didn’t make it and Ambrose isn’t a first team starter. They represent the value we bought them for.
There’s value in Cyprus, Romania, Croatia, Poland … Why bypass these for the Israel league? Is it just because we can call on an agent and get bodies from him at the drop of a hat? Whereas there’s real toil in getting agreements from those other countries?
Back to Armstrong. Barring injury, he will be a first team pick for Scotland within the year. 3 million is value where you can sell him for North of 6.
GM-Hartley,Robson,Douglas ,Pearson,to name a few.We need to get the core of a team built,no more loans for me.
Dena29, I read your rant post with interest. I was afraid to ask what was so important about the parcel you’re waiting on. Seeing as you got a bit miffed that nobody took you up I’ll ask now.
What’s in the parcel? Is it a new chamber pot for my accommodations for the weekend of the 14th Feb?
I do hope so, I like a nice clean chamber pot.
guernica
Derk was £3.5million Euros so whatever that translates too.
67 Heaven. As much as I like big John Guidetti and think he would be a good signing for us I have lost interest in the Bhoy as it looks like he is using Celtic as a stepping stone to another club.Now he is entitled to do that but playing in the first team should only happen if our own strikers get injured there is no point in us getting big John fit for his next club.H.H.
robert88
Derk was £3.5million Euros so whatever that translates too.
Stupidity on someone’s part
Mullet – we got Kayal, Biton and Ambrose for less than the cost of Armstrong.
I’d consider that good value.
Guernica..
Saying he wouldn’t get in the team ahead of Stokes, Johansen, Forrest….is a bit misplaced.
Forrest isn’t in the first 11 due to injury, so straight away, that’s one out ur 3 null n void.
And ultimately, depending on who we are playing, an energetic hard working Armstrong would be a better bet than Stokes, when playing tough opponents.
Stokes serves a purpose playing wide left in Spl…but in Europe etc, we are going to need disciplined players that can defend just as effectively as they can attack.
This much is true
There is no way in the world that Derk was 3.5 million. None whatsoever. I don’t care what the MSM say.
Ambrose, for example, I have been assured he cost no more than 250k
tinytim
12:58 on 23 January, 2015
Commons or Guidetti?
Neither.
Gary67. Or maybe Dundee Utd. are over valuing the player. H.H.
Gary67
Most probably.
happy birthday HT, enjoy
Jfh@13.27
Repost from this morning. I was not relating the foundations generosity to my or anyone else’s like or dislike of Fernando.
gearoid1998
11:38 on 23 January, 2015
HH the Celtic foundation.
MND does not take account of the football team that the sufferer supports/plays for so neither should we.
Hopefully the donation will be taken in the spirit it was given.
It is gestures such as this that makes me proud to be a Celtic supporter.
HH
HT
Hoopy birthday.
Commons for me everytime.
TT
ruggyman – yes, i’ve no doubt he’d get some games. He’s a decent player.
Don’t get me wrong, i like the kid but he is 3 million quid!
I haven’t seen anything from him to suggest he is worth that.
For 3 million, we would be looking for a absolute certain starter in my opinion.
Look, if he signs then i’ll be looking forward to seeing him in the hoops but much the way that English sides pay daft money for the flavour of the month in EPL, i’d be considering us to have done the same here.
TT
Guidetti.
Dena 29
I wonder what is in that non-existent parcel? Maybe a present from Schroeder?
JJ
PS Is the table OK? 0:-)
Send Guidetti back to free up the wages and get Armstrong in for LCSF, would play him ahead of James Forrest anyday
Hamiltontim,
happy hoopy birthday to you, athough I reckon all these birthday wishes are from folk just looking for tickets,
ignore them
now, if I could talk to you about a couple of….
Hope you have a great day and a great weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi_wxypeGc
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
you are also a bad mhan, i know you read the end of my rant ,I am not expecting any parcel :-)
how are you sir ? looking forward to the 14th it would seem
HH
67Heaven
I did .
You’re a gent
guernica,
You haven’t seen Armstrong play. For a start he is less injury prone than Forrest, far more intelligent than Stokes and plays in a different position… Johansen is primed to play in the middle of the 3 behind the striker. Armstrong is similar but would play were Biton is only much more mobile and with more guile.
No one else was quoted as being interested in Boerrigter? Balde, Pukki, Kayal, Biton, Griffiths but we saw fit to waste cumulative millions.
“Hartley,Robson,Douglas ,Pearson,to name a few.We need to get the core of a team built,no more loans for me.”
Bada,
Apart from Douglas I thought they were all decent value. Pearson was nowhere near a mill.
I agree we need a core but loans aren’t as bad as some make out
HH
Stevieq64
I think Armstrong will be cup tied.
LB
joe filippis haircut
13:49 on 23 January, 2015
Selling clubs always over value, buying clubs always under value. DU are trying to start an auction.
If Armstrong joins us it’ll be for a lot less than £3m IMO. £2-2.5m plus a sell on clause more likely.
When you think of the money wasted (Balde, Camara, Pukki, Boerrigter, Bangura) over the last 5 years, £3m for Stuart Armstrong is nowhere near as much a gamble as any of the names mentioned above….
If the guy was playing for say, Ajax, no one would bat an eyelid. Without knowing anything about him.
When in actual fact, Armstrong is one of the best players in the Scottish game with the potential to go onto bigger and better things, whether that be playing for Scotland, playing in the CL for us or eventually moving down south….
Added bonus is, the lad has his head screwed on. I believe he is doing a law course for when he finishes his playing. This ain’t no Derek Riordan….
Cannot even see a debate here…..
mullet and co 2
Bitton and Griffiths are keepers, Kayal I’m a fan of, just a shame it didnt work, the rest haven’t worked out and will soon be off.
Stevieq64
13 51
Think he may be cup tied…..
Armstrong isn’t worth £2m never mind 3.
He is no better than what we have.
TT
Lennon said Derk cos nowhere near 3.5m euros.
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
:-)))
HH
Judging by the comments from KC’s missus I would say that he’ll sign on the dotted line, and i hope he does. We would have a formidable midfield if we also added the two for one deal from DU
HH
gsu
Tom Boyd is an excellent ambassador for our Club …..a veritable unsung hero
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/558622846780715008
Dena 29
…..and another thing. If that parcel doesn`t arrive again tomorrow, take it back.
SurrealistCSC
The key strength of Armstrong, is that in the preferred Ronny shape of 4-2-3-1, he has the engine, goals, intelligence, and flexibility, to play any of the middle 5 positions.
Not a stand out in the Broony / Bitton anchor position, but could do the job… But certainly a stick on for any of the 3 attacking mid positions. This is where 2.5mil would be guaranteed good value.
I Thought Lassad was decent as also Gershon never got realy a chance,under neil lennon,who had his favourites .
mullet – i’ve seen plenty of Armstrong. In the flesh against us and on the telly.
He won’t play in the middle 2 – he certainly doesn’t for Utd. They play 4231 (similar to us) and Paton and Rankine generally play in the 2.
Armstrong, Erskine, Dow and GMS play in the offensive 3.
Armstrong is mobile, a decent passer and gets in good positions to score. As i say, I like him.
DUFC are cash rich tho and are asking a premium.
Pawlett of Aberdeen has always impressed me also but wouldn’t cost 3 million and has achieved about as much in his career.
Celtic could have paid £4m for Armstrong & Gauld last January. We didn’t!
We need to move quicker. Gauld should have been tied up after his first appearance for United. I am no coach or scout but I could tell from watching the lad for 5 mins he was a great player.
Armstrong is strong, reliable, inteligent and scores goals. Just the type of midfielder we need. Johanssen should be on a dozen for the season at least. The chances he misses are crazy. He should have been chasing a hat trick at Tannadice a few weeks ago.
£2m for Armstrong up front and a further million on appearances and caps. Just get it done. The Inter game will make Celtic at least £2m. Get a few of the dross of the wage bill and get young hungry players in. I think Deila has been impressed with Griffiths and may be more inclined to bring in more Scottish lads.
I would be delighted if we brought young Armstrong in. He is doing a degree as well which seems to indicate he is a sensible lad. It’s never a bad thing to have a few of those in the dressing room. Boy has the full package and is a future Scotland captain for me.
LB