The SFA and the SPL are investigating betting irregularities after Steve Jennings was red carded in last night’s Motherwell-Hearts clash.
The Motherwell defender picked up a booking in the seventh minute from referee Stevie O’Reilly and was shown a straight red card in the 82nd minute.
The red card was widely reported to have been issued for foul and abusive language.
In a statement tonight the SFA admitted: “Following information received from the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), we are aware of alleged betting irregularities surrounding a sending-off incident in the Motherwell v Heart of Midlothian match on Tuesday, 14th December, 2010.
“At this stage, we are not in possession of the facts regarding the allegations and are waiting for further information from the Scottish Premier League in due course.
“Once we are in possession of all of the facts we will be in a better position to provide more detailed comment on the matter.
“In the meantime, we will be working with our colleagues at the Scottish Premier League to establish the details surrounding this incident.”
There are claims that three figure sums were involved in the ‘sting’ which alerted the bookies to something unusual going on. Before the match the odds on a player being sent off were 8/1.
Any investigation will centre on Jennings and O’Reilly with the player having picked up seven booking in his 18 appearances since joining from Motherwell.
O’Reilly is due to be the fourth official at Saturday’s Hamilton-Celtic match while Jennings is automatically suspended for Motherwell’s match at Aberdeen.
Bookies now offer over 100 betting options on any televised match with betting allowed in play.
Cricket and snooker have been dogged by betting scandals in recent years but this is the first ever investigation into an incident in a top level UK football match.
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This is a strange one, watching the match last night I thought it to be a very harsh red card ,as did Andy Walker,the co-commentator.
Listening to Jim ” im sorry we,ve just lost the caller”Delahunt on Clyde 1 tonight he seems to think that the bookies have been stung . maybe . but who by ? w
Was it Steve Jennings because he’s a scouser ? or is it Stevie O’Reilly because he is part of an establishment who have been proven to be cheats ,liars and bigots ?
This one may have a good bit to go yet .
All sounds dodgy.
Hearts released a statement a few months back after the Dougie Dougie Incident.
It got laughed at in the Media as more Mad Vlad paranoia.
But in the statement it mentioned poor quality refs etc, And how it could open the door up for Match fixing etc. And that’s why its Important there is Transparency.
Now this ?? Mmmm.
You mentioned this is the first investigation in top level Uk football.
That’s not correct, we have had several investigations, some convictions Also.
Grobelar/Fashanu , Don Revie/Bremner, Then you had the Charlton incident and some Asian betting syndicate.
There has been others, just not of the top of my head at the moment thou.
Scottish Football has had a Battering the last few months,If this one has Legs, It will open up a whole can of worms.
Its Hardly great For advertisers etc, wouldn’t be surprised if people start pulling the plug on certain deals.
What will Espn and Sky think If this story turns out to be true ??
Never A dull Moment in Scottish Fitba !!!
SeltikBhoy67
Hail Hail
Dishonest refs no way can’t believe it, not in Scotland where there is so many cultures welcomed.
C’mon the Irish have been welcomed with open arms.
Well we are welcomed as long as we don’t mention the honest mistakes or the famine song or Manchester or sectarianism or discrimination or racism or over 100 hundred years of an anti catholic signing policy at ipox.