Four charged over FA breach

Four players have been charged with breaches of FA rules concerning betting in football.

The players - Lee Parle, Adam Farley, Paul Woolcott and Freddie Potter - played for Marine FC at the time of the alleged offences. The charges relate to bets placed on two Northern Premier League matches - Marine v Witton Albion (21 March 2008) and Matlock Town v Marine (4 April 2009).

Farley is alleged to have placed a £100 bet on Witton Albion to win the 2008 match and two £300 bets on Matlock Town to win the match in 2009.  Potter is alleged to have bet £300 on Matlock Town to beat Marine. Woolcott is alleged to have placed a £100 bet on Witton Albion to win the match. Parle, who still plays for Marine, is alleged to have bet on Matlock Town to win as part of a £20 double. Both Potter and Farley played for Marine in the match against Matlock Town.

FA rules prohibit participants from betting on the result or progress of any match or competition in which the participant is participating or has any direct or indirect influence. The players have two weeks to respond to the charges.