Footballer reveals gambling shame that led to four-month ban

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Andros Townsend has spoken of his depair at being banned from football for four months after breaching gambling regulations.

Reported by guardian.co.uk, Townsend's gambling led to a fine and a ban by the Football Association this week and Townsend admitted that his gambling, which led to him withdrawing from the England Under-21 European Championship squad, has left him "heartbroken".

The 21-year-old was not accused of betting on matches in which he had any involvement but strict Football Association rules that forbid gambling on a wide range of games led him to be banned for four months. He was also fined £18,000 by the organsation.

For some, gambling constitutes an even more serious addiction. However there are a number of ways bookmakers and other services, such as counselling courses, can help allay the symptoms of an addiction. All bookmakers offer self-exclusion options while counselling can identify the reasons for an addiction, for instance.

Speaking to thesun.co.uk, Townsend said: "It all started while watching games in my hotel room. I was bored and there were TV ads promoting bets you could have on the matches I was watching.

"Speaking honestly, there was never anything sinister going on. There was no match-fixing, no betting on my team to lose, no inside information," he added.