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Page last updated at 12:33 GMT, Saturday, 24 April 2010 13:33 UK

Grays and Forest Green cleared in betting probe

Blue Square Premier

Forest Green and Grays Athletic have been cleared over suspicious betting patterns during a match last season.

Two bookmakers suspended betting on the game in April 2009 after a high number of wagers were laid on the half-time and full-time score.

Forest Green said the Gambling Commission had found "insufficient evidence" to prosecute.

Rovers will now write to the Football Association to ask how such allegations can be handled better in future.

"Both clubs and their players have been smeared for a whole year with apparently no substance behind some of the lurid tabloid headlines," Forest Green vice chairman Colin Peake told the club website.

We are pleased that the club has been exonerated but more importantly we are pleased for those players who played in the match

Forest Green vice chairman Colin Peake

"The FA needs to urgently address the whole subject of reports made by betting companies when they believe they see irregular betting patterns emerging on football matches.

"In the case of this match, why was it the only one referred to in the investigation when we learned other games also had betting suspended the same weekend?"

The game in question saw Grays defeat Forest Green 2-1. The teams face each other again on Saturday.

Peake added: "We are pleased that the club has been exonerated but more importantly we are pleased for those players who played in the match."



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see also
FA investigates 'suspicious' game
27 Apr 09 |  Non League
Grays to 'fully help with enquiries'
27 Apr 09 |  Football
Grays 2-1 Forest Green
26 Apr 09 |  Non League


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