LONDON (AP) – Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has been banned from football for four months for violating betting rules.
The Football Association announced the sanction Tuesday, saying three months of the ban have been suspended until July 2016.
The sanction was backdated to May 23 when Townsend withdrew from the England under-21 squad.
The FA says the player was also fined 18,000 pounds ($27,000).
Townsend was charged with breaches “in relation to a number of betting offenses.” There was no suggestion the charge related to match-fixing.
Players are prohibited from betting on matches in competitions they are involved in or have any influence over.
Townsend spent the second half of last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, which was relegated to the second tier.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
