WORCESTER City full-back Tyler Weir has been banned from football for two months after he failed to declare he had been approached to fix football matches.
The 25-year-old was one of three non-League players given suspensions after admitting breaching Football Association (FA) rules.
Weir, St Kitts international Zephaniah Thomas, and Hyde’s Scott Spencer were all charged with failing to immediately report to the FA an approach by a third party related to seeking to influence the outcome or conduct of a match or competition.
The FA alleged on two separate occasions, in November 2012 and November 2013, Weir ‘failed to immediately report any offer made to him or any participant of any bribe, gift or reward or consideration of any nature, or any other incident, fact, or matter, which was related in any way to seeking to influence the outcome or conduct of a match or competition’.
Despite the ban, the FA stressed Weir and the other two players were not involved in any attempt to fix matches and did not accept money or gifts.
The left-back will be banned for two months with a further four-month ban suspended until July 2018. In a statement, City said the club respected the decision and the punishment and would not appeal the ban.
“Worcester City FC acted in a professional manner when immediately bringing this to the attention of the relevant football authorities and the player and the club fully assisted the FA with their subsequent investigation,” the club said. “We must, however, stress that the club considers the player has done very little wrong.
“The club will therefore support the player through his punishment and help him back into the squad at the end of his two-month suspension period,” the statement added.
City will be looking to record their third straight win when they welcome Alfreton to Aggborough on Saturday (February 6).
The Blue and Whites recorded an impressive 2-0 win over North Ferriby United last weekend, thanks to two goals from man of the match Shaun Donnellan. Victory meant Carl Heeley and Matt
Gardiner’s men have secured six points from games against two teams in the top four of the Vanarama National League North.
And with Gloucester City in 10th just five points ahead of City having played two games more, hopes for a top-10 finish are back on the agenda for the Blue and Whites.
Alfreton will provide a tough test at Aggborough having won four of their last five.