Betting scandal hits football again

The integrity of lower league football is once again under suspicion after bookmakers reported unusual betting patterns on Sunday's non-league clash between Grays and Forest Green Rovers.

The FA has launched an inquiry after two bookies, William Hill and Blue Square, suspended betting the day before the Blue Square Premier game after a large number of bets - including three-figure sums - were placed on Grays to win after trailing at half-time.



The match ended 2-1 to Grays, who were losing 1-0 at the break and numerous sizeable bets were landed at odds of 22/1.



An FA spokesman said: "We take these matters very seriously and we will investigate."



William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe added: "When you have a meaningless end-of-season match you are not expecting to take much money and all of a sudden you are being offered a large number of bets for one outcome and some relatively substantial bets.



"It was a 22-1 shot for the home team to be losing at half-time and to win at full-time.



"The biggest sum placed was a three-figure bet so we suspended betting on Saturday afternoon. Interestingly, another bookmaker unbeknown to us did the same thing which suggests this was not a freak occurrence."



The FA is still to arrange a date for disciplinary charges against six players who were charged with breaching betting rules in Accrington's clash with Bury last season.



On that game, one bookie alone took £281,000 in bets, 20 times the normal sum and although the figures for Sunday's game were not as high the FA is still set to launch a rigorous probe.



Grays have issued a statement in which they offered their full support to any investigation.



The statement added: "Grays Athletic do not condone any form of corruption and there is certainly no room for this in football."