Ryan Rainey, who recently played for Finn Harps in the Irish League, has been suspended for six months by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for violating betting regulations.
These violations involved betting on multiple Irish League and FAI Cup matches held between 2021 and 2024, as well as global football matches in 2024.
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland) issued a statement on behalf of Rainey in response to the suspension.
The former Harps midfielder admitted to violating the rules but stated that he did not bet on the matches he participated in and accepted the suspension without appeal.
Meanwhile, Rainey did mention gambling advertisements surrounding football matches, expressing a desire for reform.
The statement read: "My name is Ryan Rainey, and I have a gambling addiction. I am also a young man who has dreamed of playing football since childhood. I achieved my dream, but reality has hit me hard.
The constant influx of gambling ads, idle time while watching matches on TV, and the craving for excitement led me to develop a gambling addiction that went beyond common sense, leading me down a path I now deeply regret.
"While I fully acknowledge that I violated the FA's rules on betting on any match, I emphasize that I did not bet on the matches I participated in. I fully respect the fairness of the matches and would not engage in any actions that threaten their integrity. However, I also recognize that there are reasons for the existence of betting rules, and I violated these rules. It is my responsibility, and I take full responsibility."
Good news: Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United has been under investigation related to betting violations for the past few months.
Just a month ago, Ireland passed the long-awaited Gambling Regulation Act, which introduced a range of measures, including a ban on gambling advertisements from 5:30 AM to 9 PM.
In Northern Ireland, the Stormont Assembly's cross-party group on reducing gambling harm has been urging the UK government to restrict gambling advertisements.
