Caley star Horner in bets ban

INVERNESS defender Lewis Horner has been given a suspended eight-match ban for betting on football.

The former Hibs full-back, below, breached the SFA’s zero-tolerance rules on gambling by placing 12 bets during a loan spell with East Stirling in 2011-12 and 343 bets this season including one against a “team from his own club”.

But 25-year-old Horner will not serve any punishment if he proves to the SFA he has beaten his gambling problem with the help of addiction support services.

A disciplinary panel has stated he must not breach the betting rules again in the next 18 months and also has to go for “treatment, support or counselling at NECA Gambling Services” or a similar group for the next year and co-operates fully. Horner must also produce reports from the organisation confirming his co-operation halfway through his treatment and at the end of the 12-month period.

Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran admitted earlier this month that his defender needed help to overcome his gambling addiction.