Brian Rice blasted the Falkirk fan who taunted him over his gambling addiction as he suffered a defeat at his former club. The Alloa Athletic boss admitted the sick supporter “absolutely ruined my weekend” following the 1-0 loss.
Rice assisted both Ian McCall and John Hughes, who helped reached the Scottish Cup final against Rangers in 2009, at the Bairns and described them as “my club” which is why the 59-year-old was so infuriated by the punter. Rice was hit with an SFA charge while in charge of Hamilton Accies for breaching betting rules over a four year period from July 2015 to October 2019.
The Wasps gaffer has spoken openly about his problems in the past and he once faced the prospect of going to a Gulf jail while working in Qatar over gambling debts. And he was visibly hurt by the abuse in the League One encounter as he spoke to Alloa Athletic's club media after the game. He said after the defeat: “I’ll take the positives and there were plenty positives - apart from the guy shouting about my betting in the stand. I was really, really disappointed about that. A Falkirk supporter. It’s sad to hear and I’m disappointed because Falkirk’s my club.
“For a Falkirk supporter to shout that at me. I’m really, really disappointed and I hope he hangs his head in shame. It doesn’t spoil it for them (the fans) - it spoils it for me. It really spoiled it for me. He’s absolutely ruined my weekend and I hope it never happens to his family.”
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