Cameron Jerome and Robert Heys Charged with Betting Offences by FA

According to the Football Association's website, both Stoke City's Cameron Jerome and Accrington Stanley's Managing Director Robert Heys have been charged with betting offences.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 6:05 a.m. ET

The FA released a statement on Cameron Jerome's punishment for betting offences:

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Stoke City’s Cameron Jerome has been fined £50,000, subject to any appeal, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

Jerome, who was also severely warned as to his future conduct, admitted a number of breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules and requested a personal hearing which took place on Tuesday 13 August 2013. 

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---Original Text---

First came the news on Jerome:

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The FA has charged Stoke City’s Cameron Jerome with breaches of its Rules in relation to a number of betting offences.

Jerome has admitted the charges. A date for an Independent Regulatory Commission to hear the case will be set in due course.

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Followed by the information on Heys: 

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The Managing Director of Accrington Stanley, Robert Heys, has been charged with alleged breaches of FA Rules in relation to a number of betting offences.

Heys has until 9 August 2013 to respond to the charges.

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According to Martin Ziegler of the Press Association, via the Daily Mail, Jerome "has been charged with betting on a competition in which his team plays," but Ziegler adds that "there is no suggestion of any match-fixing allegations or that Jerome has gambled on games he has been involved in."

The FA prohibits players from betting on any games or competitions involving their team.  

Jerome, 26, has been a member of Stoke City since joining the club in the 2011-12 season. In his season-and-a-half with the club, the forward has made 67 total appearances (15 Premier League starts), scoring 12 goals and adding six assists. 

He was recently in the news, via BBC Sport, for criticizing the squad rotation of ex-Stoke manager Tony Pulis, who was replaced by Mark Hughes in May. Clearly displeased with his own lack of playing time, Jerome noted the following:

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There's no guarantees [for places under Hughes] but before in the old regime, there was a guaranteed XI who played. No matter what happened, how you trained or if you came on and did well in the games you were involved in, you were still never going to start."

I think a few of the lads who didn't play as much under the old regime won't be disheartened by the fact a new manager's come in with a new method and a new way of thinking. Everyone seems to be happy with a spring in the step, and it's not just the players—the staff are more happy and everyone is taking to their new roles.

"

He may not have a spring in his step to start the season now, especially if he is suspended. Already battling for time behind Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch at forward, Jerome could find himself very quickly behind the eight ball in Hughes' forward rotation.

Accrington Stanley is currently in League Two, the fourth-tier league in England after the Premier League and League One. The team finished in 18th place on the table a season ago, just three points clear of relegation. 

More details have yet to emerge on Heys' specific offences, though it seems likely they will be similar to the charges levied against Jerome.