Lewis Macari, grandson of Manchester United icon Lou, has been handed a suspended three-month ban for breaching the FA’s betting rules.
Macari, 23, plays for Notts County after coming through the youth system at Stoke City.
Earlier this year, he was charged with 354 alleged breaches of the rules covering a period between February 25, 2020 and December 4, 2022.
Those were in relation to bets he was said to have placed during his time at Stoke, while he also wagered on darts and horse racing.
However, the 23-year-old – who was found to have spent around £3,000 gambling with a net loss of approximately £470 – was not involved in any of the 44 Stoke matches he bet on.
This meant that after an investigation, while an independent Regulatory Commission handed him a three-month ban from all football and football-related activities, that is suspended for 12 months, meaning Macari will not miss any matches as long as he doesn’t breach the rules again over the next year.
The defender, who has not placed a bet since he moved to Notts County, initially on loan in 2023, pleaded guilty to the charges and was also fined £750.
When he was interviewed as part of the investigation, Macari was said to have been remorseful for his actions, while his ‘relatively young’ age and decision to stop gambling by his own accord was also taken into account.
‘I know that obviously, in terms of me now playing in professional football and that and being involved in English leagues and that, I can’t bet on any football altogether full stop,’ he said.
‘I would never put a bet on football again while I’m involved in football… I know that I shouldn’t have been doing that.’
Meanwhile, speaking back in July, County boss Martin Paterson had pledged to look after Macari throughout the ordeal.
‘Whatever happens is out of our control and is with the governing bodies,’ he said.
‘My stance on Lewis is one of support and one of protection. We will just support the boy in terms of him getting help if he needs it.
‘It’s an historical thing that happened many years ago and I’m not saying it’s right or wrong at all, I wouldn’t do that, but my job is to support the players good and bad.
‘It’s a role I take responsibility for and I take with pride to make sure he is supported. He will take it on the chin and he will be a bigger and better man for it because we all make mistakes.’
Macari has played just five times in all competitions for County this season, although he has started their last three league games.
The Magpies are currently 13th in League Two after losing in the play-off semi-finals to AFC Wimbledon last season.
