After Chris Maguire failed to appeal against betting regulations violations charges, the English Football Association (FA), has decided to suspend him for six weeks.
Maguire received the suspension last August after the FA claimed that he had placed 52 bets on matches from March 2017 to February 2022.
According to the FA, this was in violation of Rule E8 on Betting, which prohibits players, match officials, and coaches at level eight or higher in the English football pyramid from placing bets on any game anywhere in the world.
Anyone found to be in violation of this rule could face a suspension, fine or exclusion from the sport.
The FA independent Regulatory Commission published its November reasons for suspension in writing. It stated that Maguire was based in Lincoln City at the time and had visited the shop.
Staff claimed Maguire placed two football bets at the shop, one on Lincoln City at the time and the other on a certain match during the 2021-22 season. Maguire placed six wagers at the shop.
The FA also reached out to all licensed betting operators in Great Britain, and Maguire was informed that he had accounts with SkyBet and Unibet as well as Betfair and Boylesports.
Maguire confessed to only having a SkyBet account that he used casually for betting on other sports, such as horse racing and golf, when he was interviewed last April.
Maguire denied knowing of three alleged football wagers during the 2016-17 football season, but did admit to placing PS50 football bets in March 2021. He claimed that he placed the bet by mistake and had it cancelled and cash out as soon as possible.
Maguire placed only 10 football bets, and the FA withdrew all 52 violations. A PS750 fine was also issued to Maguire, who also spent time at Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United.
Maguire denied part of the charges and requested an individual hearing. This took place earlier in the month. The FA Appeal Board noted again the reduction in bets.
The Appeal Board however noted that Maguire had not complied with its betting rules. Accordingly, the original warning and fine by the Independent Regulatory Commission should be maintained.
Although the Appeal Board also approved suspension, this was backdated to November 2013 so it was considered that it had been served.
Maguire has no club at the moment, having left Lincoln in September by mutual consent.
