Betting rife among Premiership players, claims Cascarino

Irish striker Tony Cascarino playing for Nancy against Auxerre. Cascarino has claimed that betting on football matches is rife among Premiership players.

Former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino has claimed that betting on football matches is rife among Premiership players.

Cascarino, 43, has alleged that while players do not risk gambling on games they are personally involved in, they pass on information to each other regarding team selection, against Football Assocation (FA) rules.

"I reckon about 50 per cent of players like a flutter on other matches," Cascarino told the News of the World.

"The anonymity of online gambling has added to the appeal for players and just after midday on a Saturday is peak time.

"It's nice to have an advantage by speaking to your mates. It doesn't guarantee you are going to win but it does give you the edge.

"Here's how it works. The players will have the team meal; their manager will name his side and then they phone their mates at other clubs and feed them the news.

"Armed with that knowledge, they get on the phone to the bookies and that's what gives the players the edge," added Cascarino, who also played for Aston Villa, Celtic and French sides Marseille and Nancy.

Cascarino claimed that one England star won 220,000 pounds (347,000 dollars) at odds of 11-10 on Bolton's 4-1 Premiership win over West Ham on March 11.

West Ham boss Alan Pardew rested several players because the two sides were due to meet in the FA Cup just four days later.