Demichelis charged over 12 betting offences
Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis has been charged by the Football Association, over alleged betting offences. The 35-year-old Argentine, who has featured on 29 occasions for the sky Blues in all competitions this term, is returning back from international duty with his native Argentina - where he played the full 90 minutes during their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday evening.
He was allegedly caught breaching the rules after some suspicious activity was reported - and the former Atletíco Madrid centre-back has until 5pm UK time on the 5th of April to respond to the charge.
However, centre-back believed to have not bet on City fixtures
With that being said, there is no suggestion being made that the charge relates to any of the matches that Demichelis himself has been involved in at club level, with plenty of reports speculating what sort of punishment he'll get, if found guilty. The FA has the power to fine or suspend any person found guilty of a rule breach, with new rules that were applied ahead of the 2014/15 campaign meaning that professional players and coaches are prevented from betting on any worldwide footballing activity.
In the past, winger Andros Townsend (Newcastle, Tottenham at the time) was handed a four-month ban for breaching the rules in 2013. In the same year as Townsend, striker Cameron Jerome (Norwich, then of Stoke) was fined £50,000 whilst midfielder Dan Gosling (Bournemouth, then at Newcastle) was fined £30,000 back in 2014.
Reports also suggest that Demichelis is available for selection and can be involved in City's matchday squad to face Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side away on Saturday, despite the charges against him.