![Gambling: Football's Double Edged Sword image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=640,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/ac906ae9-466e-4082-867f-3a21e3f1b332.png)
![](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=640,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/ac906ae9-466e-4082-867f-3a21e3f1b332.png)
On this episode, we cover one of football's most controversial topics -gambling.
On one hand, it adds an extra layer of excitement for fans. Placing a bet can turn even the most mundane match into a thrilling spectacle. However, the dark side reveals the potential for match-fixing, corruption, and addiction.
There is a long list of footballers who have spoken of their struggles with gambling, including Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Paul Merson, Michael Chopra, Peter Shilton, Andros Townsend and Dietmar Hamann.
The most high-profile recent example is the Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, banned by the FA for eight months in May after placing hundreds of bets, including on his own team.
Toney, who has since spoken of his addiction, must now rebuild a career that appeared to be on the verge of hitting the next level, and becoming a reliable Premier League and England
Striker.
Another case of note is Newcastle's Sandro Tonali who was served with a ten-month ban from football for his involvement in illegal betting in October 2023
Whether you need help for yourself, or for someone you care about, GamblingCare can refer you to dedicated support services and resources that can help people overcome the impact of Problem Gambling and get their lives back on track. Head to GamblingCare.ie for more information.
![](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=640,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/ac906ae9-466e-4082-867f-3a21e3f1b332.png)
On this episode, we cover one of football's most controversial topics -gambling.
On one hand, it adds an extra layer of excitement for fans. Placing a bet can turn even the most mundane match into a thrilling spectacle. However, the dark side reveals the potential for match-fixing, corruption, and addiction.
There is a long list of footballers who have spoken of their struggles with gambling, including Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Paul Merson, Michael Chopra, Peter Shilton, Andros Townsend and Dietmar Hamann.
The most high-profile recent example is the Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, banned by the FA for eight months in May after placing hundreds of bets, including on his own team.
Toney, who has since spoken of his addiction, must now rebuild a career that appeared to be on the verge of hitting the next level, and becoming a reliable Premier League and England
Striker.
Another case of note is Newcastle's Sandro Tonali who was served with a ten-month ban from football for his involvement in illegal betting in October 2023
Whether you need help for yourself, or for someone you care about, GamblingCare can refer you to dedicated support services and resources that can help people overcome the impact of Problem Gambling and get their lives back on track. Head to GamblingCare.ie for more information.
![EURO2024, Roy Keane's Ireland Revelation, Southgate on the Brink and Carsley's Chance image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/56c94931-cca1-48e6-95f8-73f3a460a80d.jpg)
![Euro 2024 kicked off with fireworks! 🧨Round One in review image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/81136b06-2daf-417a-a4eb-04d6d0728444.jpg)
![Kompany's big move sparks a big debate! Plus Supercomputer Euro Picks image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/605aac91-39b4-469d-b416-63fb0e5e2d6c.jpg)
![THE NOT A PUNDIT AWARDS - Underdogs, sh*thouses and 23/24 in review image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/fcc607ec-769f-4c97-8502-fc61935d4e6d.jpg)
![Spurs finally happy to BOTTLE it! Live reaction to a potential title decider image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/1807b3c0-501e-4e4d-b7db-4c616048e967.jpg)
![Manchester United's staggering value meets Premier League woes! 💰 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/e1e4efb6-dead-4e72-9673-d9a6b37a1676.png)
![Unlocking Football's Managerial Chessboard: Tuchel, Slot, Ragnick, and the Greatest of Them All - Don Carlo! image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/8b238008-459a-4f58-81ff-8d6bfd10178a.jpeg)
![The FAI are over the Hill - What is next for Irish football? image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/bc4f9436-8801-4351-b4ca-9d14dec454e8.jpeg)
![Who is Ruben Amorim - the man to replace Jurgen Klopp image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/c50c81f2-0f2c-4863-8355-5146c98f5f1a.jpeg)
![WORST transfers that looked AMAZING on paper - Picking an XI image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/ae3b9148-1d7b-442d-abb8-6fdf3aa4dcc0.jpeg)
![Same old sh*t from Ireland! - Has the FAI ran out of ideas? image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/2588ead3-a08e-441a-afb5-98ca8d3a81bc.jpeg)
![Another lie from the FAI? Is Klopp's legend bigger than his legacy? - Not A Pundit image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/d405136f-2c2e-42b1-949e-b6602ec92dba.jpeg)
![The truth behind Yaya Toure's birthday cake, Angkor City and Unleashing South East Asia's football potential with Richard Harcus image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/b077256d-eed7-46f6-9fa3-c1c635a070de.jpeg)
![John Delaney's burner, Pogba burned out and ten Hag to be cleared out? image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/74ba973a-43c1-4769-9f44-a29caeacaf12.jpeg)
![IT'S FINALLY HAPPENED - Ireland has a (interim) manager! image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/6564d89c70cb6d728eaebcdc/ca845dac-4ccb-4d09-ae9a-55424161694f.jpeg)