Stoke's Matthew Etherington under pressure to settle huge gambling debts

[dww]

• Stoke helping winger manage large amounts owed
• Bookmakers set to pursue Etherington for debts

* Matt Scott
* guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 February 2010 18.43 GMT


Matthew Etherington is believed to have long-term gambling debts that stand at several hundred thousands of pounds. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

The Stoke City midfielder Matthew *Etherington is being pursued by bookmakers for a substantial six-figure sum he has run up in gambling losses.

According to a close associate of the player his debt stands at "several hundred thousands of pounds". In the knowledge that some gambling debts are not legally enforceable, Etherington's lawyers have disputed some of the sums involved. Etherington's agent refused to comment yesterday.

Stoke City are offering to help him through the dispute and he is in negotiations to extend his estimated £20,000-a-week contract at the Britannia Stadium after impressive performances this season. An element of Etherington's contract discussions has centred on the up-front payment of a portion of his salary to help relieve at least some of the debt.

It is generally acknowledged that gambling debts make sportsmen and women vulnerable to being targeted by bookmakers who seek the manipulation of results. There is no suggestion that this has occurred in Etherington's case.

Indeed, there are extra protections in place for Etherington, who is being insulated from any dialogue with his creditors. "He doesn't speak to anyone he owes money to," said his associate. "It is all done through a lawyer."

Etherington's associate insists that his financial difficulties are "historical" and that he "has been clean of gambling for some time". The winger had previously received a £300,000 loan from his former employer, West Ham United, which covered only part of his debt to bookmakers.

The situation was so unusual that West Ham required the prior approval of the Premier League to be permitted to forward the loan to Etherington.

[Chrono]

What a dick head, no sympathy for me if you are so greedy you throw away a privileged life.

[Shaggy]

It's not greed, it's an addiction. Doesn't matter if you're punting a grand you can afford to lose or your last quid, it's still an addiction.

[Matt]

Another example of how easy it is for this sort of thing to spiral out of control.

[Chrono]

It's not greed, it's an addiction. Doesn't matter if you're punting a grand you can afford to lose or your last quid, it's still an addiction.

Gambling by its very nature is greed. I gamble plenty.

[Kenneth]

300k was part of his debt I hope he really is 'clean' now because that's a very destructive adiction.

[Kenneth]

Gambling by its very nature is greed. I gamble plenty.

Yes, it probably is, let's say gamblers can become addicted to the greed and the prospect of fulfilling that greed. Still an addiction though.

[Guest]

Gambling by its very nature is greed. I gamble plenty.

Not sure about this. My father has been gambling all his life, never won a lot - only to cover his initial input. He just does it as it gives him an added interest in the sport, nothing to do with money in his case.

Winning big can become an addiction if you think it's going to happen to you all the time and the money you've won is just there to be used again. It's so tempting to take more punts.

[Chrono]

Not sure about this. My father has been gambling all his life, never won a lot - only to cover his initial input. He just does it as it gives him an added interest in the sport, nothing to do with money in his case.

Winning big can become an addiction if you think it's going to happen to you all the time and the money you've won is just there to be used again. It's so tempting to take more punts.

That's a contradiction though mate, the financial reward IS the added excitement. Difference is your dad isn't risking his livelihood when he gambles.

[Shaggy]

Gambling by its very nature is greed. I gamble plenty.

Well then you're not addicted. People drink without being addicted. It's fine. He's addicted, you're not. He doesn't deserve mocking or whatever, it's a sort of illness.

[Chrono]

Well then you're not addicted. People drink without being addicted. It's fine. He's addicted, you're not. He doesn't deserve mocking or whatever, it's a sort of illness.

He has an addiction. My opinion is that his own greed put him in that situation, you disagree. Fair enough.

[Guest]

That's a contradiction though mate, the financial reward IS the added excitement. Difference is your dad isn't risking his livelihood when he gambles.

Again I'm not sure, as in his case it just gives him an interest in the sense that he likes seeing his judgement being proved 'right' - though he could have done it differently i.e. he doesn't need to gamble in that instance. But he's never ever made much profit with it, he's just re-used the money and at most has lost a handful.

In the case of Etherington, he never needed the money in the first place, as he was being paid rather handsomely - being a professional footballer and all that, but it is clear he became addicted and it got out of hand for him. It's like a disease when it reaches to this stage and it's difficult to shake off believe me.

[Shaggy]

He has an addiction. My opinion is that his own greed put him in that situation, you disagree. Fair enough.

Gambling doesn't have to start off through greed. It's fun, a way to pass time. It can be a perfectly manageable pastime. Some get terribly addicted, others don't. You've no idea at all if "his greed put him in that situation", none whatsoever. Just because he's loaded already doesn't mean he can't or shouldn't gamble.

[Neil Young]

Smoking dope doesn't have to start off through greed. It's fun, a way to pass time. It can be a perfectly manageable pastime. Some get terribly addicted, others don't. You've no idea at all if "his greed put him in that situation", none whatsoever. Just because I'm loaded already doesn't mean I can't or shouldn't smoke some more.

Pass it, foggy.

[Shaggy]