Online gaming operator Betway has closed all of its betting markets related to football transfers, which will span across every market it serves.
The decision was made after two English footballers were involved in controversy related to their next career moves.
Ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge received a four-month ban in March for breaching betting regulations. Former Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier is also in trouble with the Football Association (FA for similar actions).
Betway has said that its decision is not connected to any disputes with the FA.
Players breach betting regulations
In ‘E8 Betting Rules’, the FA orders all registered professionals – whether that be athletes or club officials – to not bet “either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect in connection with, a football match or competition”.
E8 Betting rules are, as mentioned by the FA, applicable to all football bets – with no limitations. These include player transfers, disciplinary issues and manager employment.
Sturridge, who has been capped 26 times for England, was fined £150,000 after he was deemed to have passed ‘insider information’ related to a possible move to Sevilla FC. However, this transfer never materialised.
The now-30-year-old moved to Turkish club Trabzonspor in 2019, before leaving the club in March 2020.
Trippier was found to have leaked information to ‘close friends’ about a transfer to Spanish club Atlético Madrid last summer. Unlike Sturridge to Sevilla, that move actually went through.
Trippier has until this Friday (26th June) to respond to claims that he violated the FA’s betting regulations.
“Best removed as an option”
Betway Head of Corporate Communications Alan Alger feels that offering transfer bets can be problematic. He had the following to say.
“The FA have strict rules on betting and we feel that offering odds on players to move to specific clubs highlights a grey area which has caused issues in the past. It is best removed as an option.
“When there are hundreds of prices and markets offered on most games, this is part of the football betting experience that we are happy to see shut down.”
The operator has also recommended that all sportsbooks follow their lead and remove the possibility of betting on football transfers.
