Stuart McCall reveals how gambling split up his parents but says players should be allowed harmless flutter
THE Motherwell boss calls for a sensible approach to betting in wake of Ian Black charges.
He believes it's wrong to stop players having a flutter.
STUART McCALL knows first hand about the perils of gambling after it played a part in his own parents’ marriage split.
But the Motherwell boss believes it’s wrong to stop footballers having a harmless flutter on games that they are not involved in.
McCall is well aware of the dangers of any addiction. He revealed his father, Andy, was a frequent punter and his “habit” contributed to a family break-up.
The Fir Park gaffer insists it’s important that any young player who is showing signs of getting in too deep with gambling must be given support by their club and PFA Scotland.
But after confessing to placing bets on football with other members of the Motherwell staff, McCall says fun betting shouldn’t be outlawed.
Reacting to Rangers star Ian Black being charged by the SFA, McCall said: “There is a serious side to gambling and that is addiction. My dad liked a punt and I know it can become addictive for some people.
“I know from my dad’s experience years ago that it can snowball. Suddenly from betting on football, you’re on to everything.
“My dad’s gambling eventually had an impact on my life because my mum and him split up, possibly because of it.
“Becoming addicted can happen to any young kid. One minute they’re betting on a coupon, next they’re in a bookies betting on a horse then it’s a greyhound and two flies going up a wall.
“It’s dangerous, especially in a dressing-room environment. Hopefully we police that as well as we can, along with the rest of the staff. It can definitely have a negative effect on you.
“The less serious side to it is players or staff betting for a few quid at the weekend. Our own staff at Motherwell have done it – four of us put a few quid in each and pick a team for the coupon.
“It might be Elgin, it might Hartlepool, it could be anyone. It’s a bit of fun and a bit of banter. The guy who lets you down will bring the cakes in on a Friday.
“I find it hard to accept that there’s anything wrong with that. In the past, I’ve done fixed odds coupons myself.
“A lot of fun betting goes on and it would be a shame if that had to stop.”
McCall wasn’t aware that Scottish players are forbidden from betting on any game of football around the world.
That’s a rule he believes is wrong. But he reckons there is no excuse if anyone is found guilty of betting against the team they’re playing for.
He said: “It’s unacceptable for a player to be against his own side. If I had played with anyone who I knew had bet on our team getting beat, I wouldn’t be happy.
“People say I should know the rules but I wasn’t aware you couldn’t bet on any game. I don’t see anything wrong with our staff betting on games in England or outwith our league.”
McCall’s side will be favourites to beat Partick Thistle in the Premiership today but they’ll have to shackle a former Fir Park kid in Steven Lawless to stop the Jags.
The midfielder was released by McCall in the summer of 2012 but the Well gaffer revealed he encouraged Lawless’s switch to Firhill for the sake of the player’s career. He said: “I have no regrets over Steven at all and this has to get out there.
“I specifically arranged a bounce game against Partick Thistle so that Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly could have a look at Lawless and Ross Forbes.
“They were too good to sit on our bench or go down the leagues on loan. I knew they could play at a good level. Last season, Steven was never going to get a game with Chris Humphrey, Nicky Law, Jamie Murphy and then James McFadden here.
“So I did it as much for him as anyone else. I’m not surprised one bit by how he’s done at Thistle and I’m delighted for him.
“I knew he was more than capable of being a stand-out in the First Division. Selfishly, I could have given him another year here but it would have stunted his growth as a player.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stuart-mccall-reveals-how-gambling-2215013
He believes it's wrong to stop players having a flutter.
STUART McCALL knows first hand about the perils of gambling after it played a part in his own parents’ marriage split.
But the Motherwell boss believes it’s wrong to stop footballers having a harmless flutter on games that they are not involved in.
McCall is well aware of the dangers of any addiction. He revealed his father, Andy, was a frequent punter and his “habit” contributed to a family break-up.
The Fir Park gaffer insists it’s important that any young player who is showing signs of getting in too deep with gambling must be given support by their club and PFA Scotland.
But after confessing to placing bets on football with other members of the Motherwell staff, McCall says fun betting shouldn’t be outlawed.
Reacting to Rangers star Ian Black being charged by the SFA, McCall said: “There is a serious side to gambling and that is addiction. My dad liked a punt and I know it can become addictive for some people.
“I know from my dad’s experience years ago that it can snowball. Suddenly from betting on football, you’re on to everything.
“My dad’s gambling eventually had an impact on my life because my mum and him split up, possibly because of it.
“Becoming addicted can happen to any young kid. One minute they’re betting on a coupon, next they’re in a bookies betting on a horse then it’s a greyhound and two flies going up a wall.
“It’s dangerous, especially in a dressing-room environment. Hopefully we police that as well as we can, along with the rest of the staff. It can definitely have a negative effect on you.
“The less serious side to it is players or staff betting for a few quid at the weekend. Our own staff at Motherwell have done it – four of us put a few quid in each and pick a team for the coupon.
“It might be Elgin, it might Hartlepool, it could be anyone. It’s a bit of fun and a bit of banter. The guy who lets you down will bring the cakes in on a Friday.
“I find it hard to accept that there’s anything wrong with that. In the past, I’ve done fixed odds coupons myself.
“A lot of fun betting goes on and it would be a shame if that had to stop.”
McCall wasn’t aware that Scottish players are forbidden from betting on any game of football around the world.
That’s a rule he believes is wrong. But he reckons there is no excuse if anyone is found guilty of betting against the team they’re playing for.
He said: “It’s unacceptable for a player to be against his own side. If I had played with anyone who I knew had bet on our team getting beat, I wouldn’t be happy.
“People say I should know the rules but I wasn’t aware you couldn’t bet on any game. I don’t see anything wrong with our staff betting on games in England or outwith our league.”
McCall’s side will be favourites to beat Partick Thistle in the Premiership today but they’ll have to shackle a former Fir Park kid in Steven Lawless to stop the Jags.
The midfielder was released by McCall in the summer of 2012 but the Well gaffer revealed he encouraged Lawless’s switch to Firhill for the sake of the player’s career. He said: “I have no regrets over Steven at all and this has to get out there.
“I specifically arranged a bounce game against Partick Thistle so that Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly could have a look at Lawless and Ross Forbes.
“They were too good to sit on our bench or go down the leagues on loan. I knew they could play at a good level. Last season, Steven was never going to get a game with Chris Humphrey, Nicky Law, Jamie Murphy and then James McFadden here.
“So I did it as much for him as anyone else. I’m not surprised one bit by how he’s done at Thistle and I’m delighted for him.
“I knew he was more than capable of being a stand-out in the First Division. Selfishly, I could have given him another year here but it would have stunted his growth as a player.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stuart-mccall-reveals-how-gambling-2215013
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