" MICHAEL CHOPRA TO PLEAD GUILTY "

Former Cardiff City star Michael Chopra will not defend race fixing charges
By Jon DoelJan 9 2013


Former Cardiff city striker Michael Chopra has revealed he cannot afford to defend race fixing charges at an inquiry next week.

The Ipswich star, who will face his former club this weekend, was due to face a British Horseracing Authority inquiry on Monday after being charged in October last year.

But the 29-year-old will not be present at the hearing after releasing a statement on Wednesday morning insisting his historic gambling debts mean he simply cannot pay the £50,000 legal costs required to defend himself.

Chopra has admitted losing up to £2m on gambling and has previously checked into the Sporting Chance clinic in an attempt to beat his addiction.


The striker is alleged to have conspired with Nottingham Forest midfielder James Coppinger, and former Manchester United and England under-21 international Mark Wilson, currently unattached, and jockey Andrew Heffernen to fix races.

In a statement, Chopra said: “On the 4th October 2012, the British Horseracing Authority announced that they were charging me and others with breaches of the rules of horseracing. The charges are due to be heard at a two week inquiry, which commences on the 14th January 2013.

“My legal advisors, having engaged with the British Horseracing Authority, have been advised that even if I’m found innocent of the charges, the British Horseracing Authority will not refund my legal fees, which I have been advised would be at least £50,000 for being represented at the inquiry.

“I have extensive debts and loans and simply cannot afford the amount of money necessary to clear my name, with no prospects of ever recovering my costs. I am not a member of the British Horseracing Authority and not subject to its Rules.

“I have been advised that the British Horseracing Authority is only allowed under its Rules to take disciplinary action against a person who is subject to those Rules, which does not include me.

“Furthermore, I understand that the only sanction that the British Horseracing Authority could impose on me is to ban me from racecourses and gambling establishments licensed by it.

“It is well publicised that I have a gambling addiction problem and I see any such sanctions as being a useful mechanism in helping me to address these problems.

“As of this year, I’ve voluntarily self-excluded myself from all betting institutions from where I live in Ipswich in order to help me fight this illness.

“For the above reasons, I have decided not to present myself to the BHA inquiry.

“I will be making no further comment on this matter at this stage.”

If found guilty of the charges they face long bans from involvement with racing, including attending racecourses or talking to licensed individuals. The entry-level for the offences is a three-year ban.

Chopra's charges relate to the period between November 2010 and March 2011 - when he was a Cardiff City player and the club was aiming for promotion to the Premier League under then manager Dave Jones.

But the campaign fizzled out, Cardiff failed to win promotion and Chopra joined Ipswich Town.

what i dont understand, is how can these people also not be facing some kind of criminal charges?

He would have joined fleetwood town if they paid him a massive signing on fee thats all it was about.

what i dont understand, is how can these people also not be facing some kind of criminal charges?

Perhaps they could be if found guilty?

he was a top player but has wrecked his career and will end up with nothing,funny how he says hes banned himself from betting shops,but im sure he still gambles somehow online etc, had way to many chances on this and doesnt seem to change.
anyone have an idea of what fine sentence he would get

he was a top player but has wrecked his career and will end up with nothing,funny how he says hes banned himself from betting shops,but im sure he still gambles somehow online etc, had way to many chances on this and doesnt seem to change.
anyone have an idea of what fine sentence he would get

like it says above, he can't get anything other than a ban from racecourses and betting shops. He isn't actually pleading guilty to anything either, he's not turning up.

Something strange about all this.

So its going cost him £50,000 to defend himself without any chance of costs being refunded if he wins. That alon shows the system to be a dictatorship regardless whoever is being accused.

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

I can completely syypathise with his situation. Gambling addiction is a disease like any addiction. My older brother stole and gambled £15 million from his company and went to jail and I have struggled personally with gambling.

I only hope Chopra can get the help i was offered.

I wonder if he bet on us NOT going up?

what i dont understand, is how can these people also not be facing some kind of criminal charges?

The hearing is an enquiry which is being held to get at the truth of what happened, similar to a cornor's hearing. Obviously the evidence for a criminal conviction isn't yet strong enough (otherwise Chopra would have been charged by the Police) so he is well advised not to attend.

Something strange about all this.

So its going cost him £50,000 to defend himself without any chance of costs being refunded if he wins. That alon shows the system to be a dictatorship regardless whoever is being accused.

TBH Ian Employment Tribunals run by the same system and of course Chopra does have the option to not attend, which he is excersising.

I can completely syypathise with his situation. Gambling addiction is a disease like any addiction. My older brother stole and gambled £15 million from his company and went to jail and I have struggled personally with gambling.

I only hope Chopra can get the help i was offered.

£15 million f*cking heeeel

I can completely syypathise with his situation. Gambling addiction is a disease like any addiction. My older brother stole and gambled £15 million from his company and went to jail and I have struggled personally with gambling.

I only hope Chopra can get the help i was offered.

£15 million f*cking heeeel

Article only says 8 million but it was 15.

He only did a year inside mind in a category D white collar nick

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ga ... eft-525649

Worse thing is I was working as a solicitor in kent at the time when the story broke.

My firm wasnt best pleased lol!

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

Well the World Health Organisation disagrees with your medical opinion.

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

Spot on Nukes. Life is about choices. I love red wine and could drink and drink it if i wanted too. I limit myself to a few bottles a week. I enjoy having a flutter but limit myself to a few quid every now and then.

If i earned 20 grand a week i certainly wouldnt need to try and earn more cash by wasting 20k a week.....

Yes because Chopra "chooses" to lose everything

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

Well the World Health Organisation disagrees with your medical opinion.

Medical !!! You go down the betting office and put money you cant afford or stolen and place a bet and its in the same category as Cancer ? Get f*cking Real Danny. Its today's PC nonsense and mark my words it wont be long before Paedophiles are categorized as an illness or the name changed to "Child Orientated preference" Or something similar. Got an addiction ? Then get yourself sorted and stop bleating its self inflicted.

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

Absolutely incorrect. Just because there are no physical symptoms this should be sneered at. ANY addiction is a problem which people need help with. Nobody chooses to be addicted to anything. Whatever the addiction is, this is usually a symptom of something far more deep-seated (depression, anxiety, lack of self worth etc) which causes someone to try and fill the hole in their life with some external buzz to take their minds off how shit they feel about themselves. Really sorry your wife's got MS and wish the best of health to her.

Lol "Child Orientated Preference"

Ok let's agree gambling ruins lives. It's an impulse control problem people do want to stop but can't. I'm sure chopra isn't enjoying throwing his money up the wall.

Lol "Child Orientated Preference"

Ok let's agree gambling ruins lives. It's an impulse control problem people do want to stop but can't. I'm sure chopra isn't enjoying throwing his money up the wall.

Yes gambling ruins lives but help is available. Chopra has had the best help money can buy and TBF he is a tw*t. Deserves what he gets him

Probably better for the others involved if Chopra does not give evidence....might be some really dodgy people behind this. Also might be better for Chopra's health if he doesn't give evidence.

A lot of people will say that Chopra was stupid and took advantage of his own fortunate position with the salary that this brought.

Those people may very well be right but irrespective as to whether it is £5 per day or £50,000 per day a Gambling Addition is an illness and needs treating - and the first step to treating that illness is recognising that you have an illness in the first place.

FFS this ain't an illness or a Disease and its quite insulting to those that has an illness or a disease. No one forces them into a betting shop or an alcoholic throwing beer down there necks. It is an addiction for which there is help if they need it. I bet my Wife wishes she had an addiction rather than MS. Because she could help herself not these pitying fools who blame there addiction on an illness for there pathetic actions. The fool has no sympathy from me.
Sorry if that sounds harsh but that's how i feel.

well said mate ! i know its not totally the same but i have a cousin who has autism so i can sort of sympathize with you, you chose to gamble therefore if you become an addict its of your own doing where as people who have serious illnesses or diseases do not chose the life they live, winds me right up when people say addiction is an illness

Apparently it would cost £50,000 to defend the case, Chops earns that in 2 weeks wages.