The English FA today reached a decision to ban all professional footballers in the top eight divisions of English football from betting, directly or indirectly, on all football matches worldwide.

The FA has also decided to ban footballers in the eight English leagues from betting on any football related activities such as player transfers, managerial appointments and team selections.

According to a statement by the English FA, the new regulation will come into effect from August 1, in replacement of previous regulation which allowed footballers in England to place bets on matches in competitions their clubs are not a part of.

The new regulation comes following a English FA’s 111th Annual General Meeting today in London and hopes to keep footballers from passing on inside information to a third party who uses it for betting.