Mitch Clark Receives Betting Suspension, Won’t Miss Time

• Mitch Clark of Port Vale FC was suspended for three-months by the FA after admitting to 312 betting violations.
• The FA ruled they will suspend Mitch Clark’s three-month suspension for two years based on the possibility of ruining the 24-year-olds career.
• Ivan Toney was suspended for eight months and fined £50,000 for 262 betting breaches in May.

LONDON – English footballer Mitch Clark received a three-month suspension and £600 fine from the Football Association (FA) for betting violations. Clark admitted to placing 312 bets on soccer matches, which includes bets against his own team.

Results from the disciplinary panel report read that “The Port Vale defender admitted that he breached FA Rule E1(b) by placing 312 bets placed on football matches while playing for Accrington Stanley between 08 February 2022 and 10 March 2023. The three-month suspension has been suspended for two years pending any further breach of The FA’s Betting Rules…”

Mitch Clark joined Port Vale FC of the English Football League on July 2 but made all his 312 bets while playing for Accrington Stanley. 68 of the 312 bets placed were on soccer matches within the same competitive league as Accrington Stanley.

Parlays All Day

Three of Clarks’ bets were on his team, which included a bet on his team to lose a match while he was out with an injury.

The FA confirmed that all of Mitch Clark’s bets were parlay bets that included one or more selection. Mitch Clark did not financially gain from the wagers; in fact, Clark wagered £2,215.15 and made a net loss of £1,622.38 from betting.

Mitch Clark has acknowledged his sports betting addiction, admitted to the betting breaches, and has gotten help from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) with his addiction.

As a result, the FA decided to suspend his three-month suspension for two years. If Clark would breach the FA’s betting guidelines during this two-year period, the suspension would be revoked, and the sanction would be applied.

The FA considered the small legal sports betting amounts, no impact on integrity of matches, Clark’s compliance with confession and seeking help, as well as the future of his career when deciding to suspend the three-month suspension.

This outcome is far different from when Ivan Toney was suspended for betting, as Toney received an eight-month suspension and a £50,000 fine for 262 betting breaches.

News tags: Accrington Stanley | EFL | English Football League | FA | Football Association | Ivan Toney | Mitch Clark | Port Vale | soccer