England footballer Ryan Bowman, 33, has been suspended for 42 months by the English Football Association (FA) after it was discovered that he placed 6,397 sports bets, including some on matches in which he himself participated.
The sanction, which began in March 2025, will run until September 2028, marking one of the most serious cases of betting rule violations in British soccer.
What did the research reveal?
According to the FA report, Ryan Bowman performed:
2,637 bets between 2020 and 2021 while playing for Exeter City
3,136 bets between 2021 and 2023 while playing for Shrewsbury Town
The irregularities included betting on their own teams’ games, both for and against.
As well as betting on scorer markets where he included himself.
This behavior goes against the FA’s strict rules that prohibit players, coaches and staff from placing football-related bets, regardless of league or division.
Why is it so serious?
The FA’s regulations seek to preserve the integrity of the sport, especially in the face of the growth of online betting platforms.
Betting on one’s own games poses a serious conflict of interest, as it calls into question the player’s performance and decisions on the field.
The ban will remain in effect until September 2028
Ryan Bowman, who most recently played for Cheltenham Town in League Two, played the first part of the 2024-2025 season before being cut from the club.
Shrewsbury Town, one of his former teams, issued a statement expressing “disappointment” at the infringements.
But he noted that he “has provided all possible support to Ryan and his family.”
Recent similar cases
Buzzy
This scandal is not isolated.
In recent weeks, two Mexican players and one Costa Rican player were sanctioned for attempted match fixing in Costa Rican soccer.
This shows that the problem of betting and possible result fixing is a growing threat in international soccer, not only in elite leagues.
Ryan Bowman’s case reflects the risks faced by soccer players in an era where sports betting is accessible from any device.
For active players, the message from the federations is clear: getting involved in gambling can end a career.
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