SWANKIE FACES SFA GAMBLING CHARGES

Arbroath winger Gavin Swankie has been issued with a notice of complaint following nine alleged breaches of Scottish FA gambling regulations.

The charges span a period over the last decade, including the current campaign.

Swankie is charged with seven breaches of rule 31 which 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.”

A further two historical violations of rules 22 (2012-13) and 33 (2013-14) are alleged, which also relate to betting on football.

A preliminary date of February 18 has been set for the Scottish FA hearing, which will take place over Zoom, as has become customary for disciplinary matters.

Should Swankie be found guilty, punishments range from a “lower end” three-match ban to the “top end” punishment of a 16-game suspension.

Swankie, 38, recently signed a new contract which keeps him at Gayfield until the end of the season.

He is currently in his 13th campaign with the Lichties, having made more than 200 appearances over four spells with his home-town club.

Swankie helped Arbroath win the old Division Three title in 2011 and the League One trophy in 2019.

However, the versatile forward has seen first-team opportunities limited for table-topping Arbroath this term, playing just nine times.

Swankie enjoyed a five-year stint with Forfar Athletic before returning to Gayfield in the summer of 2017.

He has also turned out for Dundee and St Johnstone.