The League of Ireland (LOI) has announced the rollout of an educational programme on gambling-related harm in Irish football.
The initiative has been endorsed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), National League Committee and the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland).
Players, coaches, match officials and FAI staff will receive the training, which will begin before the end of January, led by gambling-related harm prevention consultancy EPIC Global Solutions.
Under the programme, 70 individual workshops will be held for 32 senior men’s and women’s teams, 26 academies and 10 women’s development league teams at training facilities across Ireland, with an additional two sessions for FAI staff and League of Ireland match officials – reaching over 2,000 participants annually.
Former professional footballers and athletes who have direct experience of gambling harm will conduct the in-person sessions.
Ex-Premier League star and Scotland international Dominic Matteo will be among those leading the in-person coaching.
As part of the project, UEFA standard betting integrity training will be delivered in accordance with FAI rules.
The programme is funded by Flutter, which also supported EPIC’s launch of the world’s first gambling-related harm prevention programme in professional football eight years ago.
League of Ireland director Mark Scanlon said: “As the League of Ireland grows each year, it is very important to work with all stakeholders including our players and match officials at the centre of the game to stress the importance of integrity at all levels.
“This partnership with EPIC also means we can look to prevent potential gambling harm among our players.
“We know the vast majority of people gamble without an issue. But the seminars at our Academy clubs will be hugely beneficial and educate for the next generation of Irish footballers.
“We have seen the work that EPIC is doing with the English Football League and it’s having a measurable impact.
“We look forward to seeing that replicated in the League of Ireland.”
Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC, added: “Following the success of similar initiatives we’ve delivered in elite sport, this prevention-based programme looks to empower players to recognise the signs of gambling harm, be more informed about their relationship with betting and better equipped to understand pathways to support.
“More significantly, the message is conveyed powerfully and with real meaning by individuals whom players are likely to respect – former footballers and athletes sharing their individual experiences in face-to-face sessions.
“They have encountered problems, and they simply did not have the same opportunity or education around prevention that we are now in a fortunate position to provide for the league.
“We are really pleased to be able to bring this training to Irish players.”
The LOI announcement comes days after research from the Sporting Intelligence newsletter revealed more than 200 non-league players in England had been charged by the FA for betting-related offences since 2015, compared to 68 in the professional leagues.
EPIC named a new chair last month, bringing in Sanjay Bhandari from EY (Ernst & Young) to replace the late Mark Fuller.
The post League of Ireland announces new gambling education programme first appeared on EGR Intel.
Gambling-related harm consultancy EPIC Global Solutions to deliver Flutter-funded initiative, aiming to reach more than 2,000 participants across the country
The post League of Ireland announces new gambling education programme first appeared on EGR Intel.