Sergio Ramos before penalty -
And....after.....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/16/motherwell-defence-steve-jennings-red-card
Motherwell mount strong defence of Steve Jennings in red-card furore
• Gambling Commission investigates betting patterns
• 'He is exonerated. Everyone at the club is 100% behind him'
• 'He is exonerated. Everyone at the club is 100% behind him'
Motherwell's Steve
Jennings is shown a red card eight minutes from time for abusive
language in the game against Hearts. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA
Motherwell
have launched a vigorous defence of Steve Jennings as the Gambling
Commission moved to investigate betting surrounding the midfielder's
dismissal against Hearts on Tuesday.
The Association of British Bookmakers passed information to the commission after heavy money was placed on a player being sent off – and in some cases specifically on Motherwell losing a man at odds of 10-1 – in the lead-up to the Scottish Premier League game.
A senior source at one leading bookmaker described "frantic" betting activity on the market before kick-off, including by one customer seeking to place multiple online wagers for the same amount. The ABB has confirmed that two specific cases, of £500 and £200 bets, were initially brought to its attention. In each instance, the monies emanated from new online accounts opened in the Liverpool area. Jennings, who is a former Tranmere Rovers player, comes from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has denied any wrongdoing and Gordon Young, Motherwell's caretaker manager, backed up that stance. "The first thing is that the player is exonerated," said Young. "Everyone at the club is 100% behind him. It's completely unfounded and what the authorities look at is independent to the club. It is an independent thing regarding the match, nothing to do with the player or the club. We are not treating it as a matter for concern. We spoke to him [Jennings] and got his version of events. He is completely flabbergasted by it."
Nonetheless, Motherwell are unaware of the detail of what evidence has been put before the Gambling Commission. The commission itself has said it will not comment on individual cases.
Having received a booking for a wild tackle in the early part of the Hearts game, Jennings was shown a straight red card, eight minutes from time, for abusive language towards the referee. The encounter, won 2-1 by Hearts, was screened live by Sky Sports.
Jennings has been keen to be allowed time to have a painful wisdom tooth removed, with Motherwell seeking to delay that operation until the end of the season.
The chief executives of the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League met last night and are awaiting further information from the gambling authorities. Should Jennings be found guilty of any wrongdoing, the gambling commission would report its findings to each of those bodies, where the subject of punishment would arise.
Jennings has held brief talks with Scotland's professional footballers' association, of which he is a member. The union had already planned a series of seminars with players in the early part of next year regarding the potential dangers of gambling and passing on what could be regarded as inside information relating to matches.
Chris Humphrey, one of Jennings's team-mates, was critical of the way the original ABB interest had come to light. "Is there no way they can do it quietly first?" Humphrey asked. "It's everywhere in the press and it's on him now. I don't think that is fair. But there is no way they are going to find him guilty because he's not like that."
The Association of British Bookmakers passed information to the commission after heavy money was placed on a player being sent off – and in some cases specifically on Motherwell losing a man at odds of 10-1 – in the lead-up to the Scottish Premier League game.
A senior source at one leading bookmaker described "frantic" betting activity on the market before kick-off, including by one customer seeking to place multiple online wagers for the same amount. The ABB has confirmed that two specific cases, of £500 and £200 bets, were initially brought to its attention. In each instance, the monies emanated from new online accounts opened in the Liverpool area. Jennings, who is a former Tranmere Rovers player, comes from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has denied any wrongdoing and Gordon Young, Motherwell's caretaker manager, backed up that stance. "The first thing is that the player is exonerated," said Young. "Everyone at the club is 100% behind him. It's completely unfounded and what the authorities look at is independent to the club. It is an independent thing regarding the match, nothing to do with the player or the club. We are not treating it as a matter for concern. We spoke to him [Jennings] and got his version of events. He is completely flabbergasted by it."
Nonetheless, Motherwell are unaware of the detail of what evidence has been put before the Gambling Commission. The commission itself has said it will not comment on individual cases.
Having received a booking for a wild tackle in the early part of the Hearts game, Jennings was shown a straight red card, eight minutes from time, for abusive language towards the referee. The encounter, won 2-1 by Hearts, was screened live by Sky Sports.
Jennings has been keen to be allowed time to have a painful wisdom tooth removed, with Motherwell seeking to delay that operation until the end of the season.
The chief executives of the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League met last night and are awaiting further information from the gambling authorities. Should Jennings be found guilty of any wrongdoing, the gambling commission would report its findings to each of those bodies, where the subject of punishment would arise.
Jennings has held brief talks with Scotland's professional footballers' association, of which he is a member. The union had already planned a series of seminars with players in the early part of next year regarding the potential dangers of gambling and passing on what could be regarded as inside information relating to matches.
Chris Humphrey, one of Jennings's team-mates, was critical of the way the original ABB interest had come to light. "Is there no way they can do it quietly first?" Humphrey asked. "It's everywhere in the press and it's on him now. I don't think that is fair. But there is no way they are going to find him guilty because he's not like that."
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