Dons director charged by SFA for alleged betting breach

Aberdeen director Duncan Skinner has been issued with a notice of complaint for breaching Scottish football’s strict gambling rules.

The Dons non-executive board member is alleged to have placed almost 600 bets over the past four years – including one against his own club.

There is no suggestion the businessman has been involved in match-fixing and Aberdeen have announced they intend to co-operate with the Scottish Football Association.

Skinner – who sits on the board of sportscotland – has been issued with a Notice of Complaint by SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan, accused of breaching disciplinary rule 31.

It states: “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.”

SFA rules prohibit any club official from gambling on football anywhere in the world.

But Skinner is accused of betting against Derek McInnes’ team when they visited Celtic Park last season on February 1.

Aberdeen lost the match 1-0.

In total, Skinner made 589 bets covering 1,465 games. Of those bets 81 involved Aberdeen with 74 placed on the Pittodrie side to win and six to draw.

He has been given until January 3 to respond to the charge, with a principal hearing set for January 11.

Skinner, who works in the oil and gas industry, joined the Aberdeen board in 2015.

In a statement, Aberdeen said: “The club is obviously aware of the citation and, along with Duncan, is co-operating fully with the SFA, in addition to conducting its own internal review.

“As this is a live case, we will not be commenting further at this point.”

Earlier this year, the Annan Athletic chairman Henry McClelland was fined £3,000 for placing 4,011 football bets, including 430 involving his own club.

Aberdeen nonexecutive board member Duncan Skinner.