Firm suspends Irish League bets

The firm has suspended all betting outside the 'Big Two'

Betting on all Irish League games, besides those involving Linfield and Glentoran, has been suspended by one of the UK's leading bookmakers.

Paddy Power said there had been an unusually high number of bets placed on teams which had no chance of winning the league title.

"This isn't necessarily something sinister," said the bookmaker.

"People on the ground might know that a key player is or isn't playing or something as simple as that."

Mr Power said that his company would not resume betting on the bulk of Irish League sides until the start of the new season.

"This also happens in relation to the lower English divisions and in Italy as well," he continued.

"Things just aren't as competitive at this time of year and we're therefore not willing to take the same risk.

"Teams often field younger players, might not be training fully or might even play after a night out."

We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step IFA President Raymond Kennedy

A spokesman for Belfast-based bookmakers Toals, which is still taking bets on all Irish League games, said there had been "very, very unusual" betting in relation to Glenavon, Dungannon and Newry City.

He said that money continued to be placed on a 'treble' bet for all three sides to win despite the odds being slashed from 16-1 to 4-1.

Raymond Kennedy, who is president of the Irish Football Association, said the betting patterns suggested that "there must be something going on".

"We could take the line that teams can be told before kick-off tomorrow that we are aware of the situation and just to be watching their step."