Player believed to be among four arrested in football bets probe

A group of Tayside men have been arrested following what is understood to be a probe into illegal gambling on a Scottish football match.

Police confirmed the men, one aged 22 and the three others aged 24, were arrested and charged in connection with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.

The police move was made in Montrose last week.

It is understood one of the men is Elgin City player Kane Hester.

The forward moved to the Aberdeenshire club from Arbroath in the summer.

However, police did not identify any of the men involved or confirm the fixture in question.

A spokesman for the Scottish Football Association (SFA) declined to comment.

The SFA’s rules on gambling state “no club, official, team official or other member of team staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall gamble in any way on a football match”.

A police spokeswoman said: “Four men, one aged 22 years and the others aged 24 years, were arrested and charged in Montrose on Wednesday August 28 following a planned police operation.

“The arrests were made in connection with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.

“A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Elgin City have released a statement on their website confirming the club are aware a player has been charged.

The football club’s statement added: “Our legal advisers have made it very clear to us that to comment further upon this matter would open the club up to possible allegations of being in contempt of court.”

It went on: “We therefore trust that people will respect the player’s privacy and also the fact that the club cannot, and will not, make any further announcement on this matter at this time.”