07 February 2024 , 16:39
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The Football Assocation have announced that Huddersfield Town forward Kian Harratt has been suspended for four months and fined £3,200 after breaching Betting Rules.
The FA outlined the charges against Harratt on Wednesday, with it being alleged that the 21-year-old "had breached FA Rule E8.1 by placing 484 bets on football matches between 30 June 2020 and 3 June 2023". It has been confirmed that Harratt admitted to this charge.
Huddersfield reacted to the news with a statement of their own, which read: "Following a personal hearing with an independent regulatory commission, Huddersfield Town striker Kian Harratt has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for four months after admitting breaches of FA Rule E8.1, which relates to placing bets on football."
The statement continued: "Kian immediately admitted the offences upon being charged and has fully cooperated with the subsequent FA and club investigations. The club will now support Kian, who is currently recovering from hamstring surgery, through the next four months ahead of his return to football activity. The club will make no further comment."
As part of the hearing which decided on the length of Harratt's ban, he admitted to placing bets on matches he was involved in across a three-year period. He also revealed that he began gambling after opening an online account following his 18th birthday.
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In his statement, which was published in full alongside details of the charges on the FA's website, Harratt said: "I am also cognisant of the fact that some of the bets that I have placed are more problematic than others, in particular those involving my own team.
"While the vast majority of the bets I have placed on football do not involve my own team, I recognise the issues that placing bets involving my own team can cause."
Harratt admitted to placing bets on matches he was involved in (John Early)Harratt had previously been at the academy of both Barnsley and Leeds before joining Huddersfield in 2019. He has since gone on to make 19 senior appearances for the Terriers, scoring three goals.
The youngster is currently sidelined with a serious hamstring injury he sustained during a match against Southampton back in November, which subsequently required surgery.
Harratt signed a contract extension with Huddersfield back in August, committing him to the club until the summer of 2026 after impressing at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.