Andros Townsend faces betting charges

TOTTENHAM Hotspur winger Andros Townsend has pulled out of the England Under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championship in Israel after being charged by the Football Association with betting offences.

The 21-year-old, who spent time on loan at QPR during their relegation campaign, was replaced in Stuart Pearce’s party by Birmingham’s Nathan Redmond. It is understood Townsend has not been accused of betting on any matches he played in. Therefore it is not a match-fixing case, but the FA is taking the alleged breach seriously and has invited Townsend to respond by 3 June.

Townsend is alleged to have broken Rule E8 (b), which 
specifies that players must not bet “either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on” any “result, progress or conduct of a match or competition” in which they participate or have participated in during a season, or in which they have any influence.

The FA, which has given no details of the exact breach in this case, said: “Townsend will receive the full support of the FA and Tottenham Hotspur FC in seeking rehabilitation whilst responding to the allegations.”

The player’s representatives yesterday declined to comment on the FA charges.