Reading chief Mark Bowen hit with FA charge for 'placing 95 bets on football matches unrelated to the Royals between 2022 and 2024'

Mark Bowen, Reading's Head of Football Operations, has been hit with an FA charge in relation to claims he placed 95 bets on football matches.

The allegations, which relate to games unrelated to The Royals' own fixtures, were spread across a period from April 2022 until January of this year.

He has been charged with misconduct by English football's governing body, and could face a ban from the sport if he is found guilty.

An FA statement read: 'Reading's Head of Football Operations has been charged with misconduct in relation to breaches of The FA's Betting Rules. Mark Bowen allegedly placed 95 bets on football matches, which were unrelated to Reading, between 19 April 2022 and 14 January 2024. Mark Bowen has until Friday 7 June to respond.'

Reading FC and Bowen have not yet made any public response to The FA's charge. 

Bowen, 60, featured for Norwich City and Charlton Athletic among other clubs during his playing career. 

As a coach, he working alongside Mark Hughes at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham, as well as several other clubs. 

Bowen was previously a technical consultant, sporting director and manager at Reading, but took up his role as head of football operations with the Berkshire-based club in May 2022 after leaving AFC Wimbledon. 

Reading finished 17th in League One during the 2023-24 season, having been plagued by off-the-field issues.

They were deducted one point in August for failing to pay players on time and in full on three occasions in the previous season, three points in September for failing to deposit wages on time, and two points in February due to late HMRC payments.

Reading fans staged a protest against their owner Dai Yongge live on ITV during the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at non-league Eastleigh late last year. 

Last December, Bowen forfeited his wages until staff at Reading received their pay for November in full, along with the club's first-team manager Ruben Selles. 

Brentford striker Ivan Toney and Newcastle player Sandro Tonali have both been hit with bans in the past year for breaching betting rules.

West Ham's Lucas Paqueta was also recently charged for breaching rules in relation to spot-fixing in matches.