Huddersfield Striker Receives 4-Month Ban for Betting Violations
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Huddersfield Town forward Kian Harratt has been handed a four-month ban and a fine of £32,000 for breaching betting regulations.
According to the FA, Harratt allegedly admitted to placing 484 bets on football, including on his own team, in three years, between June 2020 to June 2023. This was a violation of FA Rule E1 (b), which states that a participant, including players, shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, on the result of any occurrence in a football match.
During the FA hearing that determined the ban's duration, Harratt admitted to betting violations on matches in which he was directly involved.
I am also cognisant of the fact that some of the bets that I have placed are more problematic than others, in particular those involving my own team. While the vast majority of the bets I have placed on football do not involve my own team, I recognize the issues that placing bets involving my own team can cause.
Harratt Wagered on His Team to Lose
Additionally, the forward openly acknowledged betting on his team to lose on multiple occasions, stating that out of the 44 bets of this nature, 36 involved Huddersfield. Also, nine of the 36 bets on Huddersfield included selections for them to lose. However, he said that he wasn’t part of the matchday squad for the Huddersfield fixtures, as he was either on loan or training with the reserves at that time.
Harratt also informed the FA that he started gambling on his 18th birthday when he created an online betting account. Initially, he restricted his betting to horse racing, but he later expanded to include football.
The 21-year-old player also confirmed that all the wagers were placed in his own name and that he made no efforts to conceal his identity during gambling. This admission came despite Harratt acknowledging that he received training and education sessions as an academy player, which covered sections on gambling. He admitted that he was also aware that the rules explicitly prohibit footballers from betting on football.
Related: NFL Announces the Suspension of More Players for Betting Breaches
Huddersfield Statement
In an official statement on their website, Huddersfield expressed support for the suspended player, “Kian immediately admitted the offenses upon being charged and has fully cooperated with the subsequent FA and club investigations.The club will now support Kian, who is currently recovering from hamstring surgery, through the next four months ahead of his return to football activity. The club will make no further comment.”
Harratt has netted twice in 16 appearances across all competitions for Huddersfield this season. His latest outing was in a 1-1 home draw against Southampton in November.
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