Bookmakers have contacted the FA after unusual betting patterns were spotted in a match that took place earlier this season, according to a report from The Athletic. An unusual number of bets were reportedly placed on an Arsenal player receiving a yellow card.
The report also claims that the identity of the player is known, but the publication has agreed not to reveal it at this time due to privacy reasons.
It is understood that the matter is not under formal investigation by the authority, but an FA Spokesperson noted: “The FA is aware of the matter in question and is looking into it.”
As opposed to betting on the overall outcome of a match, spot-betting involves customers placing bets on specific details of matches, such as bookings, throw-ins or corners.
As reported by BBC Sport, Lincoln player Bradley Wood received a six-year ban in April 2018 after twice getting intentionally booked during his club’s involvement in the FA Cup in the previous season. He received a five-year ban for match-fixing offences, and a further 12-month ban after he admitted to 22 charges of betting on the outcome of matches, and one charge of passing on information.
And another report from the Guardian explains that Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield received a four-month jail sentence in 2012 after admitting to bowling in a way that allowed a certain number of runs to be scored during a Natwest Pro40 match.
