Global betting ban means 'no grey area' in League of Ireland

League director Mark Scanlon has backed the introduction of a global betting ban in Irish football as the new season closes in.

Mirror Sport revealed in December that League of Ireland players face sanctions if caught betting on any football matches worldwide.

Up to now, they were only prevented from betting on competitions they were directly involved in, whether that was here or in Europe.

But, for example, a weekend wager on the English Premier League was permitted.

Not any more as the Standard Player Contract has been amended due to a FIFA regulation - already in place in England - to clamp down on gambling.

Scanlon said yesterday: “It's not a situation we can particularly police, but if we become aware of it, we have to act.

“There's no defined sanction as it depends on the severity of what it is. It'll be dealt with by the disciplinary committee on a case-by-case basis.

“It's an education piece for the players that thankfully the PFA Ireland have been doing a huge amount of work on.

“They’re doing their club visits at the moment and explaining what the regulation is. It's a FIFA regulation and one we're bound by.”

Scanlon continued: “It's an important safeguard in the integrity of the game. It’s one of those sacrifices when you're a professional footballer that you're making.

“You're involved in the game at the highest level in a professional league and it's just something you can't do.

“It's a good regulation and it's clear and consistent across the board so there's no grey area.”

Meanwhile, there will be no increase in League of Ireland prize money for the second year running.

A pot of €650,000 will again be split across the Men’s Premier Division, First Division and Women’s Premier Division.

Scanlon said: “Obviously we’d love to see it increase. The prize fund isn’t where we want it to be but it has increased by 30 percent in the last three seasons.

“It’s a move in the right direction. We’re ambitious and want it to be higher, we want more revenue generated for the clubs.”

Details on the LOITV package - and national TV coverage - will be announced on Monday, but the LOITV season pass is returning as previously flagged.

The EA Sports Cup, which was last played in 2019, is effectively dead with no desire among clubs to revive it amid an already hectic fixture schedule.

The FAI confirmed that red cards can now be appealed, while a second women’s division will be added in 2025.

Plans for a men’s third tier are still at the consultation phase, according to Scanlon, but talks are ongoing.