By Hugh Keevins
Cricket corruption expert in stern warning to football chiefs over gambling
IAN SMITH warns that any relaxation of the rules governing betting could lead to disastrous consequences and even the death of the game.
PLAYERS betting on games could lead to the destruction of Scottish football according to an expert on corruption in sport.
Ian Smith is the chief operating officer for the Federation of International Cricket Associations.
During the summer he was invited by the SFA to address a conference on integrity in sport at St Andrews.
The meeting was attended by members of PFA Scotland, the Players’ Union, and the police.
Smith warned then that there must be no relaxation regarding the rules and regulations governing betting on football.
Now, in the wake of the SFA finding Rangers’ Ian Black guilty of betting against his own team, Smith has warned in the gravest terms that Scottish football has to be vigilant in the avoidance of corruption within the game.
Or else be prepared to take the consequences cricket has suffered in the wake of spot-fixing scandals that have destroyed the spectating public’s confidence in the sport.
Smith told Record Sport: “Attendance at cricket matches has dropped by as much as 400 per cent in places and that kind of thing risks the destruction of the game.
“All of that could easily happen with Scottish football unless corruption is exposed.
“In fact, I’d be stunned if there have not already been instances of corruption within the game in Scotland. It is the perfect kind of area for that to be a problem.”
A year ago the SFA appointed former policeman David Brand as their security and integrity officer, with the remit of ensuring Scotland didn’t become the kind of area vulnerable to infiltration by betting syndicates.
Smith can understand why the SFA would be pro-active on the issue of betting before players are sucked into potentially dangerous situations.
He said: “Young footballers are like cricketers – they like a punt and have the cash, and the spare time, to indulge themselves.
“A good players’ association, looking after its members properly, would understand that sometimes they are there to lead and not simply to do whatever the membership wants.
“I can’t make it any clearer to the players’ association. They should not move for any relaxation of the rules regarding betting on matches.”
Smith sees the rise of internet gambling and senses football could be at risk if players aren’t prevented from being preyed upon by the unscrupulous.
He said: “The threat of that happening is such that severe restrictions on gambling are essential. It would be idiotic not to take every precaution and enforce every rule the game has at its disposal.
“Otherwise you could be watching the death of a sport.”
Smith’s own sport has had to react to the heavy damage it has sustained in relation to match fixing and betting allegations.
He added: “You have to start by focusing on the education of the players where these matters are concerned.
“I spoke to the gathering at St Andrews before the case concerning the Rangers player had been heard of, so I’m not familiar with the exact details.
“I’m not surprised something like this has arisen though and the game has to protect itself.
“Even the public’s perception that something might be wrong, and they’re not watching genuinely sporting contests, is harmful to football.”
SFA security and integrity chief Brand revealed he feared complacency was the biggest danger surrounding football and betting in Scotland.
He said: “We need to put an effort into dealing with the gambling question before we’re suddenly hit with a match fixing allegation somewhere.
“We need an early warning system so players can provide us with confidential information.
“There can’t be a casual acceptance that match-fixing could never happen here.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cricket/corruption-expert-warns-must-no-2277045
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