Manchester United legend's grandson banned for betting

LEWIS MACARI has been slapped with a suspended three-month ban for breaching FA betting rules.

The Notts County defender, grandson of Manchester United icon Lou Macari, was charged earlier this year with 354 alleged rule breaches claimed to have taken place between 25 February 2020 and 4 December 2022.

Following an investigation, the independent Regulatory Commission has opted to hand Macari a three-month ban from all football and football-related activities, suspended for 12 months.

This means that, provided that he does not breach FA betting rules again, Macari will NOT have to miss any matches.

Macari, 23, was also fined £750, having pleaded guilty.

The County ace was found to have spent around £3,000 on gambling, with a net loss of around £470 from his bets.

Macari’s 354 bets are said to have taken place during his time at Stoke, with none placed since he moved to Notts County.

Of these bets, 44 were made on matches involving the Potters, with Macari making a net loss of £227.65 on these contests.

Macari was not involved in any of these 44 matches personally, with 43 of them first team games and the other an Under-23 contest in which he did not play.

In addition to football, Macari also placed bets on horse racing and darts.

While being interviewed as part of the investigation, Macari said: “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 is also said to have shown remorse for his actions, adding: “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.”

Macari was said to have shown “wilful ignorance” towards the rules, having not yet begun playing regular senior football at the time – although he did place bets during a loan spell at Irish side Dundalk.

In choosing to suspend the ban, the Commission took into account that Macari was “relatively young” when he placed the bets while recognising that he stopped of his own volition.

County boss Martin Paterson vowed to stand by Macari when the charges were first made in July.

Paterson told the BBC at the time: “Whatever happens is out of our control and is with the governing bodies.

“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.”

Macari has largely been on the bench this season, but was selected to start County’s last three League Two matches.