BOOKIES have suspended in-play betting ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic amid fears of rogue activity.
Top gambling sites including Bet365, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and Sky Bet pulled odds on red and yellow cards after rumours of suspicious activity began circulating online.
Punters had previously been able to bet on players being booked or sent off before the shock allegations emerged.
A source said: “There was a lot of money being placed on players receiving bookings and the bets all came in over a short period.
“That obviously raises alarm bells.
“Existing bets were cancelled and no in-play bets were available from early Friday afternoon.
“It’s obvious the bookies suspect something is amiss.”
The Scottish Cup fifth-round tie is set for a 5.30pm kick-off this Sunday at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park.
The West of Scotland Football League side were desperate to host the match at their Beechwood Park home but were told by police they would not be granted a licence.
Talbot were drawn against the Scottish Cup’s all-time record winners in the fourth round of the competition.
The sides are separated by six tiers and 59 places in the pyramid.
Celtic sit in the Scottish Premiership while Talbot are second in the West of Scotland Premier Division.
Auchinleck Talbot declined to comment.
Celtic and the SFA were contacted for comment.
A Gambling Commission spokesperson said: ”We play an important role in fighting corruption in sport – consumers must have confidence and belief that when they place bets with GB licensed operators they are doing so on markets that are fair and free from betting related corruption.
“Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works with the GB licensed betting industry and sports governing bodies and take any allegations of match-fixing (including spot fixing) very seriously. Where appropriate we will support others or take enforcement action as required. This includes sharing information with partners if it is necessary to do so.
“We don’t comment on ongoing enquiries or confirm they exist because doing so could harm the enquiry or could unjustifiably damage reputations. We may comment on a case after its conclusion but many cases are led by other bodies including sports governing bodies or law enforcement agencies.”
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