14 Scottish Players and Two Managers Have Been Fined for Violating SFA Betting Rules

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: February 2, 2022

The SFA has accused players and coaches throughout Scotland of violating the country’s strict rules on football betting.

Two managers and 12 players of the Scottish football team have been blamed for violating the SFA gambling law after they were named in a gambling investigation.

Six Elgin City football club players are also part of those who will face the sports federation’s disciplinary committees. All 14 people were blamed for sports betting, which is banned.

The players and the managers were accused of placing sports bettings to win on the accumulator. However, none of them believed to be involved in any form of match-fixing.

Dougie Imrie Has Currently been Appointed as Greenock Morton Manager

Dougie Imrie, who was recently appointed the manager position of Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton, is also involved in this case and is also being accused.

Dougie and the club have helped the Scottish Football Association in the investigation and also do help in the future. Dougie will provide written contact information in reply to the announcement shortly. He will have the complete support of the Greenock Morton Board of Directors throughout this procedure. Moreover, it is stated that once SFA receives written notice, they will give supporters a follow-up update.

Morton confirmed that the club had received a complaint from the Scottish Football Association about possible breaches.

Dougie Imrie, 38, is said to have been betting on games between July 2011 and Oct 2019. During this time, he remains a footballer, playing for St. Mirren, Hamilton Accies, and Morton.

According to Morton, the complaint concerns possible violations of the law.

Gordon Young, 57, now number two at Cove Rangers, was indicted between 2020/21 and 2014/15 when he was hired by clubs like East Fife and Dundee United.

Shane Sutherland, 31, Inverness’s Caledonian Thistle football club forward, was charged between July 2011 and June 2019.

Arbroath Championship players Shane Sutherland and Gavin Swankey, who currently play for Inverness Caledonian Thistle football club, also received accusations of alleged incidents in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. While five of them are from League Two, Elgin City F.C. also had to face a trial date.

The Scottish Football Association will hold hearings the following month to determine possible sanctions.

Alleged Rule Breaches

For clubs in the Scottish Premier League, League 1 and 2, the lower fine is five hundred pounds, the intermediate is 25 hundred pounds, and the top is five thousand pounds.

Discipline officers will be notified of each person the following four weeks, February 11th and 18th.

The accused Elgin City F.C. players are Thomas McHale (26), Rabin Omar (24), Darryl McHardy (26), Aiden Sopel (22), Matthew Cooper (27), and Conor O’Keeffe (23).

A representative of Elgin City stated: “We will speak to our players, our lawyers, and the SFA to determine the most appropriate way to proceed.”

Brian Gilfillan (37) of Threave Rovers F.C and Ashley Ballam (21) of Strathspey Thistle F.C have also been accused.