Leicesterford City players accused of betting against their own team
The club says no disciplinary hearings have begun and that it must verify the claims after its third consecutive defeat.
Key takeaways:
- South African second-tier club Leicesterford City is facing unverified allegations that some players placed bets against their own team.
- The claims emerged after Leicesterford lost 3-0 to Lerumo Lions at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, its third consecutive defeat in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
- According to KickOff, sources alleged that several players unhappy with limited playing time had pooled thousands of rand to bet against Leicesterford; the claims had not been independently verified and no players were publicly identified.
- Club representative Tswaledi Kgaphola said he had heard the rumours but needed to verify the information at the club’s offices.
- Kgaphola said no disciplinary hearings or formal proceedings had taken place since the match, adding that the club would need to establish whether players were involved before deciding on further action.
South Africa.- South African second-tier side Leicesterford City has become the subject of a betting controversy following allegations that some players placed bets against their own team amid a run of three consecutive defeats in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The claims came to light after Leicesterford suffered a 3-0 defeat to Lerumo Lions at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, marking its third consecutive loss in the league.
According to local football publication KickOff, sources close to the matter alleged that several players, unhappy with their limited playing time, had pooled thousands of rand to bet against Leicesterford. However, the claims had not been independently verified as of press time, and no players had been publicly identified.
Responding to the allegations, Leicesterford representative Tswaledi Kgaphola said he had heard the rumours but needed to verify the information at the club’s offices. He also rejected suggestions that disciplinary hearings had already begun, stating that no hearings or formal proceedings had taken place since Saturday’s match.
Kgaphola said players were reminded at the start of every season that betting was prohibited. However, he stressed that the club would need to establish whether any players were involved before deciding on further action. Kgaphola also warned that unverified allegations could create divisions within the team, underscoring the need to establish the facts before drawing conclusions.
