Non-league duo given lengthy bans after placing more than 750 bets on football matches
Two players at sixth tier side Boston United, Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins, have been punished by the FA for a breach of betting rules
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Two non-league footballers have been banned from playing for five months after placing more than 750 bets combined.
Boston United pair Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins were both found to have breached FA Rule E8, which prohibits those involved directly or indirectly on betting on any football match anywhere.
Findings have shown that over the course of six years, the midfield duo placed a total of 757 bets on football games.
They were both originally charged in August 2020.
Thanoj was charged by the FA with misconduct after 319 bets had been placed on football matches between 2014 and 2020, while they also charged Rollins after 438 bets were placed on football matches between 2015 and 2020.
Thanoj was given a £950 fine and a five-month suspension from all football and football-related activity. Rollins was banned for one month and fined £500.
A spokesperson for Boston United said: “Boston United acknowledge the Football Association bans from football handed out to contracted players Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins.
“The bans relate to historical breaches of FA betting rules as part of a wide-ranging investigation across non-league football.
“Clearly, we are very disappointed with the situation as the club has clear policies regarding betting. The club will make no further comment at this stage."
Rollins is Boston's longest-serving player, having joined in 2015, while Thanoj arrived at the National League North side in 2017.
Boston manager Craig Elliott gave his take on the situation.
"I'm disappointed to lose two fantastic players," he said.
"I've known about it since June, so managing that and not knowing what would happen has been difficult.
"As a football manager I'm disappointed to lose key players. But these things have happened.
"There'll be nobody more disappointed than the lads themselves. It's a short career and they've missed a lot through Covid - but they know the rules."
