THEY may not be supporters of Joey Barton, the self-confessed gambling addict who has fallen foul of the footballing authorities for placing bets, but the list of those inside the game who believe the punishment didn’t fit the crime continues to grow.
His £30,000 fine – probably around a week’s wages at Burnley – is hardly an issue; it is the 18-month ban that rankles with his colleagues, a penalty that because of his advancing years, in footballing terms, will bring down the curtain on him featuring in the game’s upper echelons.
Derek McInnes, inset, joined the chorus of those who disapprove of the FA’s sanctions and even went as far as admitting that, as a young pro with Morton, he was not averse to having a punt on – but never against – his team.
The Aberdeen manager highlighted the ease with which bets can be placed thanks to 21st century technology.
“It’s difficult to change that,” he asserted, “although I think players are more and more aware. I’m sure there are still players betting. You can only warn them of the pitfalls and repercussions of it. Because, when you see Joey Barton’s sentence, it’s very, very harsh.
“Whether that’s because he’s a high-profile figure and they’ve made the sentence so serious because of his profile – maybe it sends out a message. But it seems extremely harsh on a boy that he cannot play football for 18 months. And it’s something that everybody should be aware of.”
McInnes’s recollection of his early days as a pro with Morton, and the gambling culture during his seven years with the club, reminded him that he “loved a bet” but never against his own team.
He said: “We’d be going to games and someone would say: ‘You know we are X odds to win today’. The boys would have a whip-round and put a bet on ourselves to win the game. It’s just so easy now. Everything seems so accessible; it’s so easy to put a bet on – and chase money. But betting has always been synonymous with sport.”
Preparing for the visit to Pittodrie of St Johnstone tomorrow, the Aberdeen manager was less inclined to engage in discussing the speculation that Rangers were keen to make a move for Kenny McLean.
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