Anyone else get the feeling he isn’t being 100% honest?
He doesn’t quite own it all, claiming he doesn’t remember the bets against his own team (the most damming charge) to lose, but accepts it anyway just to get it all done.
Mentions they’d have people visit the clubs pre season to discuss betting but because they don’t explicitly say ‘do not bet’ he didn’t realise they actually couldn’t. Despite it being obviously not allowed, and with surely plenty of examples of other players accused of match fixing around the world over the years.
Used someone else to bet for him not because he’s a Premier League footballer but because he didn’t want his mother finding out, which I can somewhat understand having had an addiction previously, but you’re telling me he really didn’t know it was forbidden?
Claims it was all set up perfectly so he would miss the World Cup. When asked if they made an example out of him he thinks he was, and doesn’t think that’s right. They should absolutely make an example out of him, it won’t have the same ring to it if they banned a League 2 player. They need to show that you absolutely cannot do this on the game, and these are the consequences.
Just own the thing, nothing wrong with being addicted and hopefully he receives the help now but he will never get over it if he can’t be 100% honest about it all.
What I will also say, I do agree with him regarding not being able to train with the team. Having the right people around you can massively help in difficult situations and isolating him will definitely make him suffer more. Ban him from playing, fine him, but let him at least have the daily support of his team mates.