FA accused of 'dereliction of duty' in potential match-fixing scandal

The Football Association has been accused of a 'dereliction of duty' after failing to question three non-league clubs about possible betting activity on several games.

According to the BBC, the FA promised to act and told clubs to remind players and officials of their responsibilities under the rules.

However, the chairmen of all three Essex clubs have revealed that none of them have been questioned or even approached, the report said.

The former head of the FA's compliance unit, Graham Bean, said the governing body's failure to contact the clubs was disgraceful and a dereliction of duty.

He added that it was his belief that the FA tends to stick their heads in the sand at suggestions of match fixing and tends to give a perception that they don't think it actually exists.

Last month, a group of British players in Australia were arrested and charged with match-fixing offences while playing for the Melbourne-based Stars in the second-tier Victorian Premier League, the report added.

All four of the accused played non-league football in England before moving to the Stars, the report further said.