Scottish FA CEO Stewart Regan "has ruled out a relaxation of the laws that preclude footballers from betting on matches," according to Jonathan Coates of the SCOTSMAN. Regan argued that small-return lays, such as those that led to Rangers’ player Ian Black receiving a 10-match ban last week, "represent the 'thin end of the wedge' in the wider context of corrupt gambling, and should be aggressively stamped out." Regan "is determined not to allow the scourge of match-fixing to take form in Scotland’s national game," and believes that any relaxation in the laws, an idea suggested by Scotland's PFA, might “open the door” to darker practices (SCOTSMAN, 9/24).
A SERIOUS ISSUE: In Glasgow, Scott McDermott reported Regan also revealed that match-fixing in Scotland "is a serious issue after the SFA were made aware of 'activity' at low-level games recently -- where information is being fed back to Asia." Regan said, “We should certainly be aware of match-fixing. What we are seeing is evidence of activity in the stands, where individuals from Asia are commentating on matches into laptops and giving feedback." Regan believes that the three-game ban dished out to Black "will act as a warning." Regan said, “The Black case has brought a lot of attention and profile to the issue. If nothing else, it has heightened the issue and made it clear players shouldn’t bet, full stop" (DAILY RECORD, 9/24).
