THE FA last night ratified a blanket ban on players in English football placing a bet on any match around the world.

The rule will come into effect next season and it is understood that it will apply to any player competing in the top eight tiers of the English game.

That is a change from the previous rule which only banned players from betting on competitions in which their club was involved.

Andros Townsend, the Tottenham Hotspur winger, as well as Dan Gosling of Newcastle United and Cameron Jerome, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace from Stoke City, were among those players found to have breached those betting regulations.

It was confirmed that players will also be prohibited from passing on inside information to a third party who uses that information for betting. The FA haver stated that the rule will start come into force from August 1 and will also cover betting on new managers or player transfers.

A statement from the FA read: "A worldwide ban on betting on football will come into force from 1 August 2014 for certain participants in English football.

"Participants covered by the ban will be prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world.

"The changes to FA rules from the start of the 2014/15 season will also effect a worldwide prohibition on betting on any other football-related matter. For example, the transfer of players, employment of managers or team selection. The passing of inside information to somebody that uses the information for betting remains prohibited."