21 Sep 2010FA considers tightening betting rules

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

The English FA is believed to be considering banning players from betting on fixtures and is poised to hold talks on the issue with leading footballing groups, according to reports.

Footballers are currently allowed to place bets on matches in which they and their team are not involved, but the recent controversy surrounding cricketing spot-fixing allegations have renewed pressure on sporting governing bodies.

"At the moment, we have a good link-up with the betting industry and if there are any particular patterns of betting on the game, warning signals are sent out," Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief Gordon Taylor explained to BBC 5 Live.

The FA will meet with representatives from the PFA, the English Premier League, the Football League and the League Managers' Association, but denied that the furore following Pakistan's tour of England has sparked the review.

A string of new rules have been introduced in England this season, including home-grown player quotas to boost the prospects of domestically-trained youngsters.

Written by Mark Thompson

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