'I can't get my head around it' – Barrett wants betting levy review

Roy Barrett has called for a fairer distribution of the betting levy, which should take into account the money raised by the Government from football gambling.

The outgoing FAI chairperson asserted that €1.5billion has been distributed to date and is used solely to finance the racing industry, and Barrett believes that the football fraternity should receive a substantial share based on the sports’ contribution.

Speaking at a media conference on Friday, Barrett, who is set to depart the organisation following a three-year stewardship, emphasised the disparity of funding between football clubs compared to their Gaelic games and rugby equivalents.

However, he was far more scathing in his assessment of the betting levy distribution, suggesting that horse racing and greyhound racing are not growing and perhaps even in decline.

"Whatever about Gaelic or rugby, let’s look at other sports and how they’re treated; horse racing and greyhound racing, so what’s happened there?" pondered Barrett.

"Since 2001, all of the proceeds from the betting levy have gone, in proportion, 80:20, by legislation, to horse racing and greyhound racing. That’s just over €1.5bn that’s going to those two sports.

"Where have they spent the money? Over 60% of that is in prize money, for a sport which is, let’s just say, isn’t growing and some could argue is in decline.

"Then, if there’s €1.5bn of betting levies being raised, well what are they raised on? They are raised on betting and what are the sports that are bet on most?

"You take the UK gambling commission; they did a survey on bets from 2017 to 2020 and 60% of bets are on football. Now maybe you can argue there’s a local difference in Ireland and say 40% are on football.

"Why should 40% of the bets and