By Tim Parsons-
Paul Scholes, the former England midfielder turned manager has been silent about charges of misconduct in relation to the Football Association’s betting rules.
The governing body announced the charges today, but Scholes and his representatives have so far declined to comment about its implications. Betting about football matches when in the position of somebody like Scholes opens up all kinds of possibilities for corruption, and he knows it.
The charge against Scholes relates to 140 bets allegedly placed between August 17 2015 and January 12 2019, when Scholes was a part-owner of non-league side Salford City but before his appointment as Oldham manager in February 2019. The involvement of owners or directors Scholes worked as a paddy power tipster during the 2014 World Cup and was well aware of the rules forbidding him from betting.
His indulgence in betting was in breach of the strict rules than instruct those involved in the game from betting on outcomes. The FA placed a comprehensive ban in 2014 on any betting at all levels for all involved in the game. The FA statement read:
“Paul Scholes has been charged with misconduct in relation to The FA’s Betting Rules,” the FA statement read.The 44-year-old, who spent 31 days in charge of Oldham Athletic between February and March this year, has a 10% stake in fifth-tier side Salford City. He has been given until 26 April to respond to the charge.
Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles with Manchester United was capped 66 times by England, retired from playing in 2013 and became a part-owner of Salford in 2014 alongside former United players Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt.
Scholes spent his professional playing career with Manchester United where he scored hundreds of goals goals in about 800 appearances between 1993 and 2013. He also represented England in the national team between 1997 and 2004, gaining 66 caps including the 1998 and 202 world cups, as well as the Euro 2000 and 2004 tournaments. The misconduct charge is a big disappointment