Football is a beautiful game. However, there are some incidence that sometimes tarnish it’s reputation.
Well, something similar has happened recently, which may not tarnish the reputation of the game but it may put a former behind the bards for 27 long years.
A former Highland League footballer, who once played for Elgin City, stood in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
Gordon Finlayson admitted drug trafficking and money laundering offences stretching from 2018 to 2024 across Glasgow, Inverness and Dingwall.
Lord Mulholland described the operation as sophisticated and pointed out that nearly £300,000 had been paid to Finlayson without any legitimate income.
Just under £500,000 worth of cocaine and ketamine was seized during the investigation.
Even after being remanded, he arranged for almost £39,000 to be sourced for the operation.
According to the court (via The Scottish Sun), Finlayson received a total sentence of seven and a half years. Five other men were also jailed.
Liam Maiden was handed five years and nine months for cocaine dealing and money laundering after the recovery of £350,000 of drugs and £115,000 in dirty cash.
James Brannan received four and a half years for offences involving street Valium and amphetamine.
Eoghan O’Reilly was sentenced to four years and three months for cocaine and cannabis trafficking.
Ryan Brodie received three years and four months for cocaine supply.
Kevin MacAskill was jailed for 18 months after helping move cash at Finlayson’s direction while he was in prison.
The operation ran for years, but its downfall came quickly once authorities closed in.
The sentences now reflect the scale of the damage and the money involved. It also shows the choices that turned a former footballer into the leader of a major criminal network.
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