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'What's the problem?' Ex-captain Shearer defends English gambling culture
LONDON (Reuters) -- Ex-England captain Alan Shearer on Monday came to the defense of former national team manager Kevin Keegan who has been under fire for allegedly allowing a gambling culture in the squad. But former international midfielder Paul Merson said he believed it may have contributed to the team's disappointing Euro 2000 campaign earlier this year. Newcastle striker Shearer dismissed claims that morale in the England camp was low under Keegan when the team failed to make the later stages of Euro 2000. He insisted betting did not cause any problems. Shearer, who retired from international football after the tournament, told the Daily Express: "Where these stories are coming from I don't know but it's not nice for Kevin Keegan. We had a very good team spirit in the camp when I was there. "We played cards but don't tell me the team of 1966 (when England won the World Cup) didn't play cards. It happens at every club so what's the problem? The sums (in the newspapers) are vastly wrong." Keegan, who resigned after England's 1-0 defeat to Germany in a World Cup qualifying match last month, was attacked by the British media on Sunday for allegedly allowing his players to bet huge amounts of money on cards and horses. Aston Villa midfielder Merson, who has suffered with gambling problems in the past, said he believed it may have led to England's downfall. Merson believes gambling badly affected his performance on the pitch. He told the Daily Mail: "It's not so much the amounts involved because players these days can afford to lose 50 grand (US$72,540) on a single hand. "The main problem is that it is so mentally draining. People do not understand what gambling does to you. They think you just put your money on and that's it. "But it's on your mind all the time. You're constantly thinking about it and if you're playing cards day in and day out, there's no way you can give football you're full concentration."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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