CHARLIE FROM THE STANDS: Gambling - the question of morals which football must answer soon!

I will never forget that feeling when I was standing in the Kop at Anfield watching on as Jamie Redknapp scored a thunderbolt against Blackburn Rovers. Not only did the strike prove to be the winner for the Reds on the day, but also for me as a punter, having backed Redknapp to score anytime. I had a fiver on it but to a young boy (some would say far too young), it felt like thousands.  

That was the start of my toxic relationship with gambling. That euphoric feeling as Redknapp score was something I had never experienced before and would endlessly chase for some time.  

Over 10 years later, I was on the way to play St Pat’s in a league match with a few of the other lads placing a few bets to pass the time on the bus. It came to the last race of the day, and we were watching highlights of one of the horses that was a clear favourite. Every clip that was shown was the horse winning his previous races by a country mile, with the message being clear – this horse was not going to be beaten.  

As the bus pulled into Inchicore, I was in complete despair. Our golden goose didn’t even place, and I had lost a fortune. Sitting in the changing room, all I could think about was the amount of money I had just throw away. It was only when Stephen Kenny named the team did I get shaken out of my trance, as he named me at right-back. Right-back. Surely a mistake? I had never played there in my life. Maybe our right winger would help me with the defending, I thought. Who was the right winger? Paddy McCourt. Maybe not then. Looking back, I recall never thinking about the money I had lost during the game, but as soon as the final whistle went, it was all that was in my head – a crushing feeling. 

After over 10 years of gambling, that experience made me realise a couple of things. Firstly, I am not good at gambling. And secondly, it was taking control of my life, which didn’t feel good at all. However, I was one of the lucky ones, I can’t imagine having that feeling day-in and day-out. 

Listening to Brentford striker Ivan Toney and others talk about their addiction to gambling, there seems to be a common theme that the only time that they are not thinking about gambling is when they are on the pitch. The grass becomes their safe space for those 90 minutes. Yet, it's gobsmacking that every football league around the world takes that safety away as the punishment for gambling. Last week, it was suggested that Newcastle United’s new Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali is set to receive a 10 month ban for his gambling exploits preceding his time at St James’ Park. Imagine you had just moved to a new country for work, had an ongoing gambling addiction and then you’re slapped with a ban for 10 months? We talk about mental health issues in the game, but then you have to wonder what is Sandro Tonali supposed to do in Newcastle during the winter if he can’t play football?  

Please don’t read this as a call for sympathy towards Tonali, Toney or a younger Gareth McGlynn. I just feel that there should be more thought put in place to understand the reasons behind the gambling, as well as measures being put in place to stop it happening to the next generation.  

For me, the gambling companies are using football as a clear path to their target audience, something which must be reduced or completely stopped. When you consider the vast sums of money that are being poured into football through gambling companies, over 75 per cent of Premier League clubs accept huge sums of money from gambling firms. They are plastered all over the jerseys, the stadiums – they are literally everywhere. It’s impossible for a fan or player to get away from it, either directly or subconsciously, when supporting their team. In Ireland, it is refreshing to see that only two clubs - Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk - taking ‘blood’ money from betting companies, with their names plastered across the front of their jerseys.

With the continuing visible growth of the League of Ireland across socials and marketing streams, as well as the increased attendances year on year, I believe that every club has a social responsibility that the FAI must not only encourage, but perhaps enforce.  After all, if kids attending matches for the first time are becoming aware of these brands now, then it’s better to fix a problem when it’s small, than try reinventing the wheel when it’s huge.  

LOI Update: 

What a week for St Pat’s. With two massive wins (away to Bohs, and home to Sligo), they enter this weekend’s tie with champions-elect Shamrock Rovers with serious momentum. Pat’s have the chance to go into the FAI Cup Final without any pressure having already secured European football, sitting in second place with only Derry City being able to catch them. A remarkable feat considering their poor start to the season.  

What was to be one of the week’s standout ties, ended again in refereeing controversy, this time with a red card for Derry City against Shelbourne. The game was shaping up brilliantly with end-to-end attacking football, and chances at both ends. It was clear that both teams were confident and intent on winning the game. And then, our friend Rob Hennessy goes and does it again… I say again as it's evidently clear from that data that Derry's record when Rob Hennessy is the referee sees Derry win around 23% of the time. The average is approximately 44% - I'll leave that there for you to make up your own mind. 

Now, if you have read my previous columns, you will know that I am not Rob Harvey biggest fan, well add Rob Hennessy to that list. Why, might you ask? Because he is a terrible referee. Any match that I have watched live when he has refereed, he has gotten at least two or three big decisions wrong. On this occasion, I won't be overly critical: Sadio Diallo has given him a decision to make with a late tackle, and having watched it back, in my opinion, it is between a yellow and red.  

In real time, it wasn’t an obvious red. But what irks me most is that Hennessy couldn’t wait to get the red card from his back pocket. I have watched it back and two things stand out: the reaction of the Shelbourne players, which I think feeds into the referee’s decision to pull the red rather than a yellow; and indeed, Hennessy 's inability to take a second and make sure he makes the right decision.  

Usually, you see the top referees taking a moment, checking the player on the ground to see if there are any viable signs of impact on the knee, maybe a cut sock from the impact or the player holding a particular part of the leg, but not our Rob. No, he couldn’t wait to get the red card out of his pocket.  

Anyway, the game finished 0-0 and it was a fair result, Derry defended very well, only giving up one chance with the header from Jack Moylan and the disallowed goal. All in all, whilst disappointed with a draw, I would say Ruaidhrí Higgins was the happier of the two managers.   

Shamrock Rovers beating Drogheda was to be expected, particularly with Drogheda missing Conor Keeley and Darragh Markey. The win now leaves Shamrock Rovers within three points of four in a row - the less said about that, the better.  

Sligo Rovers are a team stumbling towards staying up and have a lot to think about during the off-season. Only for Cork City being so indecisive in appointing a full-time manager, with Liam Buckley clearly not wanting the job, they too struggled for long periods of the league campaign and will undoubtedly be looking at the off-season as the time to refresh. 

This weekend sees Bohemians travel to Dundalk, along with Shelbourne playing UCD at home, meaning that fourth spot up for grabs. The end standings will be crucial for Bohemians going into the FAI Cup Final, where we could have Bohemians finishing the league campaign in fifth and needing to win the cup to secure European football next year. This is a team that won six out of their first seven games - it’s the business side of the league when you need to hit form, but let’s see.