Are Footballers Allowed To Bet on Football Games?

Football is the most popular sport in the world that attracts the attention of thousands of fans in the stands and millions from their homes. But, this highly entertaining sport is also widely followed by sports bettors, as there are many matches and betting options to bet on.

Betting on football is such an admired practice that even footballers themselves get involved with it. But, the real question here is whether they are allowed to place such bets. In this article, we will reveal everything that you need to know about this matter.

What Do the Rules Say?

The national football association of each country where sports gambling is legal decides the rules of what the players can and cannot do. With that being said, every single one of these associations prohibits footballers from engaging in betting on football games.

There are also laws in many countries that find this kind of activity from footballers illegal. They state that all football players are prohibited from wagering on any football event or tournament, regardless of the country it occurs in.

It is very clear why footballers cannot wages on their own games, as the outcome of them is determined by themselves. But, they could also intervene in other football matches indirectly, which is why they are prohibited from any kind of football betting activity.

The global prohibition of football-related gambling doesn't only include betting on matches or competitions. Players are also forbidden to wager on player transfers, team choices, manager hirings, etc.

These rules and laws are designed to keep the love of the sport and ensure that every football game ends in a genuine way. Footballers that break the betting rules will face harsh consequences that can even result in a contract termination with their club.

Some players do bet on football matches, but they do it in secrecy through other people. They cannot conduct betting using PayPal, or any other payment method as it will leave a trace.

But, you should know that these kinds of activities are also illegal and can result in some serious punishments. Football players cannot even disclose inside knowledge to third parties.

The only footballers that are allowed to place bets on this sport are the retired ones. Once a player hangs up their boots they are no longer prohibited from betting activities.

Players Banned for Placing Sports Bets

Many footballers have been caught by the authorities for betting on the same sport they compete in. Below we will mention only the most popular players that are worth your attention.

Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge was once a starter for England and an integral part of a truly amazing Liverpool team. However, in 2019 he was found guilty of breaching the betting rules after he passed on crucial information about his transfer in January 2018.

The punishment imposed by the FA was a 4-month ban from football and a £150,000 fine. This has also resulted in a contract termination between Sturridge and Turkish club Trabzonspor. He protested his innocence in this case blaming the bookmakers that allow betting on football transfers.

Joey Barton

Joey Barton is another well-known footballer that breached the FA betting rules and received very harsh punishment. An investigation determined that Barton has managed to place 1,260 bets over a course of ten years, including numerous wagers related to several of his teammates.

In November 2016, Barton parted ways with Glasgow Rangers after he was charged with a one-match ban for breaking the Scottish FA rules on gambling. The next year in April, the FA imposed an 18-month ban on the player, which is an extremely harsh punishment for a footballer.

Andros Townsend

Last but not least, we have another ex-England international player who's been playing in the Premier League since 2012. Andros Townsend was caught breaking the FA betting rules after his bad habit got out of control while on loan at Birmingham City in 2012.

During the season 2012/12, Townsend revealed that he managed to lose £46,000 as a result of his gambling addiction. The FA then charged him with a 4-month ban for breaching the betting rules. He used the time off from football to seek help for his gambling addiction