London: England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen admitted yesterday to occasional gambling but said his losses were nowhere near the millions reported.
The Sunday Mirror newspaper claimed Owen had spent 2.2 million ($3.52 million) betting on horse racing and football over the past three years.
Those bets, allegedly using accounts registered in his fathers name, included Manchester United to win games in Europe and Chelsea to win in the Premier League.
There was no suggestion Owen bet on matches involving Liverpool or England.
A spokesman for Owen said part of the Sunday Mirror article was correct.
Michaels father Terry has confirmed that he opened an offshore betting account two or three years ago and has also used this to place bets for friends and family, occasionally including Michael, the spokesman said.
Michaels gambling losses probably total around 30-40 thousand over the last couple of years. "Although the sums represent a tiny percentage of his earnings, Michael and his family know how important even 100 is to a normal household.
Player gambling has been in the news this week following claims by former Ireland striker Tony Cascarino, Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy and Chelseas Iceland international forward Eidur Gudjohnsen that players lose thousands of pounds in card games.
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