The English FA charged five players yesterday with breaching betting rules following an investigation into unusual betting patterns on a league match between Accrington Stanley and Bury last season.

The FA said that the majority of the charges related to bets placed on the League Two match on May 3, 2008.

Bookmakers in north-west England, where both clubs are based, reported unusual betting patterns before the match with higher than usual amounts being staked in particular areas of the country.

Four of those charged were Accrington players at the time of the game.

Neither team was involved in promotion or relegation issues at the time of the match, which Bury won 2-0. All five players are alleged to have placed bets on Bury to win.

FA rules prohibit players from betting on the result of any match or competition in which they are taking part or have any direct or indirect influence on.

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