Soccer:Bohemians midfielder Gareth McGlynn said he was "absolutely amazed" at the two-month suspension he received from the FAI disciplinary committee after admitting to betting offences while playing for Derry City. The player intends to appeal the ban.
McGlynn acknowledged that he had placed bets on a small number of games but none of which involved Derry City.
He insisted that he had not at any stage been in a position to influence the outcomes, all of which, he said, had gone against him. The FAI’s disciplinary committee nevertheless imposed a ban from April 30th to June 29th.
“I am absolutely amazed at the decision,” said McGlynn in a statement released today. “The disciplinary committee have fully accepted that I was not aware that I was breaching the rule and yet they have punished me with a huge ban which could mean missing as many as ten matches.
“It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I feel I’m being made a scapegoat for suspicious betting patterns in other matches which they completely agree have nothing to do with me and in which I had no betting interests.
“When compared to the ban which Gary Dempsey received for betting on a match involving his own team, it shows a complete lack of consistency. I will, of course, be appealing the decision.”
The ban means McGlynn could be unavailable for up to a dozen games, including high-profile league clashes with St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, as well as up to two League Cup games and Bohemians’ first outing in the FAI Cup.
Stephen McGuinness, PFAI general secretary, also reacted angrily to the decision.
“It’s incredible. To suggest that betting on a match against your own team is the same as betting on another match in the league involving two unconnected teams beggars belief and shows a complete lack of insight into the game,” said McGuinness.
“The panel accepted he didn’t know he was breaching the rule and yet banned him for a period which is effectively five times that of Gary Dempsey who made a bet in a match against his own team.
“Gareth is distraught as he genuinely thought he was doing nothing wrong. The disciplinary committee have destroyed the player’s season without any cause. Their complete disregard for precedent is very worrying for the entire disciplinary process and reduces the confidence the PFAI has in the system.
“The PFAI is against all forms of betting in the game and is doing its utmost to educate its members but it can’t stand for a good professional who made a small number of losing bets in matches involving other teams being hung out to dry so the FAI can send out a message. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done.”