Kilmarnock striker Kyle Lafferty has called for a complete sporting ban for betting companies after the former Hearts and Rangers opened up on his past struggles with gambling.
Lafferty, 34, has enjoyed a successful spell in Scottish football throughout his career with over 50 top-flight goals, 89 caps for Northern Ireland, three consecutive Scottish top flight titles at Ibrox and appearances for a host of English sides. Making a memorable career for himself, the Enniskillen-born star now plies his trade at Rugby Park with his career coming to an end.
Though, by his own admittance, it has not all been plain sailing throughout his career. A player sometimes marred by controversy thanks to training ground bans, simulation suspensions and more, many will have scoffed at the news that Lafferty received a £23,000 ban for gambling on football whilst at Norwich City in 2016 - when in fact, there was unknowingly a bigger struggle going on for Lafferty.
Speaking to the Pint and Two Shots podcast, the 6ft 4in striker opened up on the struggles he had in gambling whilst on the books at Carrow Road; admitting he left Gambling Anonymous meetings only to bet straight after he left. This, coupled with the negative views on gambling in the past, has left Lafferty calling for a complete ban in all sports for gambling companies if the problem is to subside.
"I went to my GA [Gamblers Anonymous] meetings and they helped massively. You meet normal people who aren’t going to judge you," Lafferty said. "That was the biggest thing for me that stopped me from getting help before, going to meetings and getting in the press and stuff like that. People looking at me in a different way and being embarrassed basically.
"But I ended up getting fined heavily from the FA in England. It was three months before the Euros and I was like ‘I’ve absolutely messed this up for myself’. In my meeting with the FA I was so honest. I was like ‘listen, what I did I’m not blaming anyone, it was my fault I was well aware of what I was doing’. I was honest with them and I think that helped me, they gave me Tony Adams in Sporting Chance’s number and I started seeing him but I wasn’t ready.
"I drove from Norwich to London every Wednesday when I was off but I seen myself going to the bookies around the corner when I left the meeting. I didn’t bet on football after that, I was just treading water to try win my water back.
"When I first came out it was a massive weight off my shoulders. I’d love to come up with something that stops betting companies having any say in football. For anyone, but especially footballers because they are in the limelight, there’s always help. The backing and support you get will be mind-blowing for yourself.
"If anyone ever wanted to come speak to me, even if I played against them or anything I’ll always help anyone no matter who you are or where you’re from."
