Caley Thistle midfielder Lewis Horner has been charged by the Scottish FA for betting offences, including placing one wager against the Highlanders this season.
Horner is alleged to have committed two separate breaches of Scottish FA rules, which prevent players from gambling on any football match, since 2011.
The breach relating to this season alleges Horner broke Scottish FA rule 31 by placing 343 bets on football matches since July 1 last year, including “one accumulator bet featuring a bet placed against a team from his own club.”
The first alleged breach dates back to the 2011-12 season, with the 25-year-old accused of placing 12 bets on football matches, including twice against his own club.
Horner was contracted to Hibernian for the duration of that campaign, but was on loan at East Stirlingshire between November 2011 and May 2012, although the notice of complaint does not specify which club the alleged offence relates to.
Horner has until Monday to reply to the complaint, with his hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 25.
The Newcastle-born player, who joined Caley Jags from non-league club Blyth Spartans in 2014, is out of contract in the summer, with the last of his 11 appearances this season coming in December.
A Caley Thistle statement confirmed Horner had previously received counselling for gambling.
The statement said: “On speaking to Lewis he informed us he had previously suffered from problems with gambling for which he had sought professional help. Lewis regrets that, having previously received counselling with regard to his addiction, he did not ask for further help sooner. He is very contrite and is extremely embarrassed to have brought this on both himself and the club. While it is disappointing, he has fully co-operated with the club in this matter and we will offer him all the support possible in dealing with this.
“The matter is still under review and, until such time as that is complete, neither the club or player will be making any further comment.”
Horner’s alleged breach is the latest in a string of gambling accusations in football in recent months.
The highest-profile case came last month when Burnley midfielder Joey Barton, formerly of Rangers, was banned from football for 18 months and fined £30,000 after admitting an FA charge of placing 1,260 bets on matches over a 10-year period.
Barton was also given a one-match suspension by the Scottish FA in November for placing 44 bets on matches during his unsuccessful six-month spell at Ibrox, which came to an end earlier in the same month.
Annan chairman Henry
McClelland, pictured above, has also been charged with allegedly placing 3,981 bets on games between the period of July 2011 and May 2017.
He will have until Tuesday to respond to the complaint which states he made hundreds of bets involving his own club and on four occasions bet against the League 2 club to win.