Football membership official suspended for betting on his personal staff 130 instances – to lose

A Swansea City official has been suspended for betting on his own team to lose 130 times.

Huw Lake, the club’s player liaison officer, was banned from working in the sport for 12 months and fined £1,500 for his rogue bets.

Lake was tasked with sorting issues for top players during 20 years at the club, including in the Premier League.

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But he admitted to placing a total of 2,476 bets on matches between April 2018 and September 2023.

Lake staked a total of nearly £92,000 – but lost more than he won.

The independent Regu-latory Commission hearing was told he was down by £7,437 on his punts over the five years.

Lake was an apprentice during the Swans’ first taste top-flight stint in the 80s, making his debut in the old First Division and playing 23 times under then-boss John Toshack.

He was taken on in the player liaison role to help players and managers settle in – with unlimited access to the top team.

A Swansea City spokesperson said: “Huw admitted the offences upon being charged and he and the club have cooperated fully with the subsequent investigation by the football authorities.

“The club supported Huw throughout the FA’s proceedings and will continue to do so. Swansea City will make no further comment regarding this matter.”

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