MAJOR Hearts investor Tony Bloom has responded following allegations of secret, illegal football betting.
The man who’s put almost £10million into the Edinburgh club has recently been accused of operating a secret gambling syndicate, with one report claiming he may have placed bets on his own football teams.
The billionaire is owner of English club Brighton and Hove Albion and made his riches by becoming one of the world’s most successful gamblers and founding private group Starlizard.
But with calls for investigation swirling, the big money businessman has been forced to issue a statement firing back at ‘false allegations’.
Shared on Brighton’s website on Bloom’s behalf, it read: “Following an inaccurate and misleading report in The Guardian earlier this evening, I can categorically assure our supporters that I have not placed bets on any Brighton & Hove Albion matches since becoming the owner of the club in 2009.
“In 2014, in addition to new rules on betting, The FA introduced a policy with quite onerous provisions for owners of football clubs with interests in betting.
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“These provisions allow certain football club owners, including me, to continue to bet on football under strict conditions.
“In particular, the policy prevents me from betting on any match or competition that Brighton & Hove Albion is involved in.
“Since 2014, I have always fully complied with these conditions, and all of my bets on football are audited by one of the world’s leading accounting firms on an annual basis to ensure full compliance with The FA’s policy.
“Lawyers acting on my behalf have this evening directly contacted The Guardian to make my position on this entirely false allegation very clear.
“Separately, our club is in direct contact with both The Football Association and The Premier League regarding this matter.”
Hearts last month posted a club record turnover of £24.4million, and bankroller Bloom has previously claimed the club CAN win a league title within the next 10 years.
They’re sitting atop the table for now but face Celtic tomorrow who are second only on goal difference AND have a game in hand.
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