Former Socceroos Captains Sanctioned for Game Bets
(Bloomberg) -- Former Socceroos captains Craig Moore and Kevin Muscat were among three A-League players sanctioned by Football Federation Australia for betting on games.
Queensland Roar skipper Moore and Melbourne Victory captain Muscat, who both had playing stints in Europe, were fined A$3,000 ($2,050) and a further A$2,000 suspended for betting on matches not involving their teams, the federation said.
Melbourne's Grant Brebner was fined the same amount and given a two-match ban, with a further two games suspended, for betting on two games, one of which involved his own team. The wagers were discovered after betting exchange Betfair supplied information to the Sydney-based FFA.
"These fines and the playing suspension should serve notice to all players that any form of betting by players on football matches has no place in football and will not be tolerated," FFA Chief Executive Officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
Brebner bet a total of A$640 on the two games, including Melbourne's 3-1 Asian Champions League loss to Thailand's Chonburi in March. Brebner wasn't in the squad and didn't travel to Thailand.
Muscat placed and lost A$100 on a match not involving Melbourne, while Moore bet a total of A$600, winning A$72, on two matches not involving the Roar.
The players hadn't realized they had breached the sport's code of conduct, though accepted responsibility and apologized for their actions, Buckley added.
The FFA said it would conduct an awareness campaign to ensure players know their obligations and the risks involved in gambling.
