Gambling, sports psychiatry, and disciplinary sanctions in English professional football

Smith, Alexander J.; Buadze, Anna; Zullino, Daniele; Liebrenz, Michael (2023). Gambling, sports psychiatry, and disciplinary sanctions in English professional football. Soccer and society, 25(1), pp. 140-143. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group 10.1080/14660970.2023.2234170

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This paper critically examines the broader implications of the recent case involving the professional football player, Ivan Toney, who was sanctioned by the English Football Association for gambling-related offences. Gambling and English professional football have many interconnections, underscored by the prominent betting culture within the sport and athletes’ distinctive risk factors for pathological behaviours. Common punitive measures for betting-related offences, like complete bans from “all football-related activity”, may inadvertently exacerbate extant vulnerabilities, particularly in cases where gambling disorder has been noted as a mitigating circumstance. Accordingly, this article recommends holistic approaches to such incidents, emphasising the need to balance applicable punishments with the provision of sufficient mental health support informed by current evidence. Moreover, a wider reconsideration of the potentially harmful intersections between gambling and English professional football may be necessary, involving proactive initiatives to expand prevention schemes, increase psychoeducation, and reduce mental health stigma in football.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Psychiatric Services

UniBE Contributor:

Smith, Alexander James, Liebrenz, Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1466-0970

Publisher:

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Stefanie Hachen

Date Deposited:

20 Dec 2023 11:36

Last Modified:

14 Jan 2024 02:43

Publisher DOI:

10.1080/14660970.2023.2234170

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/190550

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