Former Scotland striker questioned by police in sports betting investigation
Leigh Griffiths’ home raided over suspicious betting patterns involving Dundee and Hearts match last December
Police have questioned former Celtic and Scotland international Leigh Griffiths over alleged gambling in sport following a planned raid on his Lanarkshire home on Thursday morning (1 December), various sources have reported.
Griffiths’ former teammate and current Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan was also quizzed over suspicious betting activity during a Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Hearts on 18 December 2021.
Both Griffiths, who won seven league titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups with Celtic, and McGowan were booked in the game in question.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following a pre-planned police operation on Thursday, 1 December, three men, aged 37, 35 and 32, were arrested in the Bothwell, Bonnyrigg and Airdrie areas in connection with an investigation into alleged gambling incidents in sport.
“All three men were released without charge pending further enquiries.” The third person remains unnamed.
McGowan’s current club, Dundee, have acknowledged the investigation by Police Scotland. In a statement, the club said: “The club will support the authorities with their inquiries and will not be making any further statement at this time.”
This is the latest investigation which connects football stars and the betting world.
Recently, Brentford striker Ivan Toney was charged by the Football Association (FA) with 232 alleged breaches of FA rules E8, which bans players from betting on matches or sharing information.
England and Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier received a £70,000 fine and a 10-week suspension from all football-related activities in 2020 for advising a friend to wager on his August 2019 transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid.
Daniel Sturridge was penalised for revealing insider information regarding a move. After it was discovered that he had advised his brother to bet on a transfer to La Liga side Sevilla in January 2018, he was given a four-month suspension and a £150,000 fine.
Current Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was given an 18-month ban in 2017 for placing 1,260 bets on football over a decade between 2006 to 2016. He retired from football following the ban despite the fact the ban was reduced to five months following an appeal.
Lastly, former Wycombe Wanderers forward Scott Kashket was suspended for two months in January 2020 for placing 183 bets on football matches. The forward was also given a £3,446 fine and warned about his future conduct.