FA Wants Ban On Betting for Yellow Cards in Football

According to a report in the Mail newspaper the English Football Association (FA) want gambling companies to withdraw betting options on yellow cards, corner kicks, penalties, free kicks and other potential individual manipulations on professional football.

The news comes following several investigations and bans on high profile premier leagues players who have been found guilty or are being investigated for them betting on these markets.

The report says the FA are concerned that these betting markets open up potential spot-fixing in football matches. The Mail says that the FA have already held talks with betting firms and government on those markets being removed from football games.

It has said that the government department responsible for football, department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have indicated their support to the FA over the removal of these betting markets.

To change betting markets such as these would need the backing and enforcement of the UK Gambling Commission or the FA hopes instead the agreement of betting companies to remove these markets by voluntary agreement.

It is noted that a few gambling companies such as 32Red and Unibet have already removed these betting options but many other companies still offer these markets.

However one industry insider told the iGaming Post, “The FA are trying to plug a leak in the dam by trying to block these markets, any sport that has the potential for individual manipulation of spot-fixing will do so, such as snooker, tennis, darts and even golf.