UK FA considering blanket betting ban

The UK Football Association (FA) is reportedly considering a blanket ban on players and club staff betting on football matches following an admission by Newcastle United Football Club player Dan Gosling to a FA misconduct charge earlier this week.

Restrictions are already in force concerning English football club betting, however a complete ban is under consideration which would be in line with the Scottish Football Association’s (SFA) blanket ban currently in operation.

The SFA’s blanket ban clearly states no club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA is permitted to bet in any way on a football match.  A range of punishments include a fine, suspension or expulsion from the game which may be levied should the rule be breached.

Under FA rules, English players may not bet on matches involving themselves or their team including competition they play in or have played in.

Graham Bean, formerly the FA’s compliance officer, believes a complete ban would be a start, but admits that in reality “… you’re never, ever going to be able to stop it.”

“The FA is looking again at the whole of betting and who should be allowed to bet on football in the football industry,” FA chairman Greg Dyke told the BBC. “In the next few weeks, we’ll come out with a policy.”

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