The Irish Football Association has launched a survey which will help to shape support for players who face challenges linked to gambling.
The survey, aimed at players in the NIFL Men’s Premiership, Championship and Premier Intermediate League plus the NIFL Women’s Premiership, is being backed by NIFL and the Professional Footballers’ Association of Northern Ireland.
Ulster University has designed the survey and will complete research into the results.
And the findings will in turn help the Irish FA, NIFL and PFANI to shape the next steps in how the three organisations can support players with challenges surrounding gambling.
Chris Wright, the Irish FA’s Anti-Doping and Integrity Education Officer, said: “We are proud to launch this survey in partnership with NIFL, PFANI and Ulster University. It is the first of its kind and offers a real opportunity to identify issues around gambling within our domestic game.”
He further explained: “After embedding anti-doping and integrity education within our game, we realised we needed to offer greater support for players around gambling challenges and addictions.
“We initially reached out to players who are still playing and have gone public in the past about their addictions. NIFL and PFANI came onboard and a player group was developed. The aim behind the group is to have a joined-up approach from stakeholders to having improved, tangible support for players with challenges.”
NIFL Championship goalkeeper Aaron Hogg, who has played Irish League football for two decades, represented the group at a UEFA integrity conference in Dublin in February and spoke in public for the first time about his challenges.
Wright further explained: “The first concept for the group was to survey players within the domestic game to get results which will shape our next steps of support.
“We are privileged to have the support of Ulster University. The results of the survey will guide our next steps of support.”
The survey is aimed at NIFL players from the four leagues who are aged 18 and over and is completely anonymous.
Wright added: “We need every player to complete it. It only takes 15 minutes to do it.
“We want to thank the players for believing in what this group is aiming to achieve and guiding us as we start this journey. To have current players, who have all been through really challenging times due to gambling addiction, believe in what we are trying to do is a privilege.
“With the support of PFANI and NIFL, we believe we will see some tangible outcomes in the near future.”
Steven Mills from NIFL said the NI Football League was pleased to support this important research.
“We encourage all players to complete the survey as we try to better understand the challenges and work together to develop education and support for our players within our leagues,” he added.
And Michael Carvill from PFA NI said: “We’re asking players across the Northern Ireland Football League to take part in this important survey. Your voice will help us better understand and address the impact of gambling within our game.”
Image: Representatives from the Irish FA, NIFL, PFANI and Ulster University attended the survey launch.
