Pundits View On Tonali Ban

[Tall Paul]

Football depends on betting for a large chunk of its income (it shouldn't, but that's another story) and it's in the interests of the game to keep the betting market honest. Hence the ban on footballers betting on any match because it not only has to be honest, it has to be seen to be honest.

There is no practical way of introducing a rule that says that football betting is legal as long as you don't do it for match fixing.

Racing has the same rule for jockeys (though not for trainers). Strictly no bets on horse racing.

I agree that it's about perception, but it's not about the perception of the betting market, it's about the perception of sporting integrity.

[mikeS]

1964 Match Fixing conspiracy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Brit ... ng_scandal